Aboriginal Story of Burke & Wills
The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives is the first major study of Aboriginal associations with the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61. A main theme of the book is the contrast between the skills, perceptions and knowledge of the indigenous people and those of the new arrivals, and the extent to which this affected the outcome of the expedition.
The book offers a reinterpretation of the literature surrounding Burke and Wills, using official correspondence, expedition journals and diaries, visual art, and archaeological and linguistic research – and then complements this with references to Aboriginal oral histories and social memory. It highlights the interaction of expedition members with Aboriginal people and their subsequent contribution to Aboriginal studies.
Generously illustrated with historical photographs and line drawings, The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives is an important resource for Indigenous people, Burke and Wills history enthusiasts and the wider community.