by Bill Gammage
Seddon’s first proof has only some forests dense, so some were open. Open forest is the puzzle Howitt addresses: there is no point in discussing what he was not. Neither proof shows that ‘Aborigines rarely burnt this country’. Gippsland was patterned with grass, open and dense forest, and clear roads over a great variety of soils and altitudes.99 People visited Kosciuszko country annually for bogong moth:100 is it likely that there alone they ignored the Law and did not burn? Historical sources show that they did burn: for example compare Ryrie’s 1840 account of Rams Head’s grassy range with its dense forest now (picture 5). This is no natural succession, and it questions why a natural explanation is preferred.
By far the most frantic denier is Bill Lines.101 He claims that there is no evidence for 1788 fire. He writes of Judith Wright and Ted Strehlow, ‘In this racial fantasy it is white men, not black, who are barbarous and ignorant. Neither Wright nor Stehlow provided details as to what Aboriginal intimate knowledge of their environment comprised’;102 of Rhys Jones and Sylvia Hallam on firestick farming, ‘This assertion quickly became received wisdom but not on the basis of merit or on evidence marshalled on its behalf ’;103 of Kath Walker on Aboriginal land ownership, ‘While this romantic cant highlighted Aboriginal moral superiority, it bore no resemblance to the manner in which human beings actually live on the planet’;104 of Tim Flannery and Marcia Langton on the absence of wilderness, ‘This ill-reasoned, chaotic argument rested on a terrifying ignorance of history, language, biology and ecology’,105 and so on.106 I hope this book helps.107
Few historians ask how Australia became as it was, whereas many scientists do. I urge them to see historical sources not as bones to be picked but as bodies to be studied, and to consider that history’s ‘impressions’ and science’s ‘objectivity’ alike stem from assumptions. Of course sources can be wrong, but to think them inherently wrong brings flat-earthers frighteningly close. I think Bill Jackson knew this. Some of his work may be disproved. I assume he would expect so: it would be catastrophic if knowledge ossified. But he asked questions and offered ideas. These are the great spurs to enquiry, giving future researchers the fire and purpose to seek on. I hope that, even as Jackson’s work recedes from objectivity into impression, his successors learn to mine more fully and objectively the rich treasure trove it has joined.
APPENDIX 2
Current botanical names
for plants named with
capitals in the text
Botanical names are changed frequently.
Acacias Acacia
From their DNA some Acacia are now classified Senegalia or Vachellia.
Blackwood melanoxylon
Boree, Myall pendula
Brigalow harpophylla
Cootamundra Wattle baileyana
Georgina Gidgee georginae
Golden Wattle pycnantha
Inland Gidgee cambagei
Ironwood estrophiolata
Lancewood shirleyi
Mimosa Bush farnesiana
Mulga aneura
Silver Wattle dealbata
Witchetty Bush kempeana
Yarran homalophylla
Eucalypts Eucalyptus
From their DNA many northern and some western eucalypts are now classified Corymbia.
Alpine Ash delegatensis
Apple Box bridgesiana
Bangalay botryoides
Bimble Box populifolia
Black Box largiflorens
Blackbutt pilularis
Black Peppermint amygdalina
Black Sallee stellulata
Blakely’s Red Gum blakeyii
Coastal Moort platypus
Coolibah microtheca
Darwin Stringybark tetrodonta
Darwin Woollybutt miniata
Desert Bloodwood opaca
Fan-leaved Bloodwood foelscheana
Forest Red Gum tereticornis
Ghost Gum papuana
Grey Box microcarpa
Gympie Messmate cloeziana
Hill Red Gum dealbata
Imlay Mallee imlayensis
Inland Bloodwood terminalis
Jarrah marginata
Karri diversicolor
Lemon-flowered Gum woodwardii
Mallee Box porosa
Marri calophylla
Meelup Mallee phylacis
Messmate Stringybark obliqua
Mongarlowe Mallee recurva
Morrisby’s Gum morrisbyi
Mountain Ash regnans
Mugga Ironbark sideroxylon
Pink Gum fasciculosa
Poplar Gum platyphylla
Ramel’s Mallee rameliana
Red Bloodwood gummifera
Ribbon (White, Manna) Gum viminalis
Risdon Peppermint risdonii
River Red Gum camaldulensis
SA Blue Gum leucoxylon
Scribbly Gum haemastoma
Shining Gum nitens
Silver-leaved Gum pulverulenta
Smithton Peppermint nitida
Snappy Gum leucophloia
Snow Gum pauciflora
Southern Blue Gum bicostata
Spotted Gum maculata
Sugar Gum cladocalyx
Swamp Gum ovata; regnans (Tas)
Swamp Peppermint rodwayi
Sydney Blue Gum saligna
Sydney Red Gum Angophera lanceolata
Tasmanian Blue Gum globulus
Tuart gomphocephala
Varnished Gum vernicosa
White Box albens
White Mallee dumosa
Yellow Box melliodora
Other trees
Belah Casuarina cristata
Black Sheoak Allocasuarina littoralis
Bottle Tree Brachychiton spp
Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwillii
Celery-top Pine Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Coral Tree Erythrina variegata
Corkwood Hakea suberea
Cypress Callitris
Black endlicheri
Blue intratropica
White (Murray Pine) glaucophylla
Deciduous Beech Nothofagus gunnii
Desert Oak Allocasuarina decaisneana
Drooping (Coast) Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata
Fig Ficus platypoda
Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa
Green Plum Buchanania obovata
Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii
Huon Pine Lagarostrobos franklinii
King Billy Pine Athrotaxis selaginoides
Kurrajong Brachychiton populneum
Lady or Native Apple Syzygium suborbiculare
Myrtle or Native Beech Nothofagus cunninghamii
Native Cherry Exocarpus cupressiformis
Nonda Plum Parinari nonda
Ooline Cadellia pentastylis
Paperbark melaleuca spp
Pencil Pine Athrotaxis cupressoides
Quandong or Native Peach Santalum acuminatum
Queensland Nut, Macadamia Macadamia ternifolia
Red Bauhinia Bauhinia carronii
Red Cedar Toona ciliata syn australis
Red Kapok Bombax ceiba
Sandalwood Eremophila mitchellii
Sassafras Atherosperma moschatum
Silky Oak Grevillea robusta
South Esk Pine Callitris oblonga
Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum
Tea-tree (paperbark) Melaleuca spp
Tulipwood Harpullia pendula
Weeping Pittosporum Pittosporum phylliraeoides
Wilga Geijera parviflora
Bushes and shrubs
Bluebush, Cottonbush Kochia spp
Budda Eremophila mitchellii
Bush Plum or Plumbush Santalum lanceolatum
Bush Tomato Solanum chippendalei
Caley’s Grevillea Grevillea caleyi
Cassia Cassia spp
Desert Raisin Solanum centrale
Dogwood Pomaderris spp
False Sandalwood see Budda
Heath Banksia Banksi
a ericifolia
Hopbush Dodonea viscosa
Kangaroo Apple Solanum rescum
Mountain Pepper Tasmannia lanceolata
Native Gooseberry Cucumis melo
Old Man Saltbush Atriplex nummularia
Pituri Nicotiana spp
Tranquility Mintbush Prostanthera askania
Waterbush Grevillea nematophylla?
Grass
Blady Imperata cylindrica
Blue Dichanthium sericeum
Bull Mitchell Astrebla squarrosa
Buffel (introduced) Cenchrus ciliaris
Bunch Spear Heteropogon contortus
Button Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus
Kangaroo Themeda triandra
Mitchell Astrebla spp
Native Millet Panicum decompositum
Native Rice Oryza australiensis
Never-fail Eragrostis setifolia
Nut Cyperis rotundis
Queensland Blue Dichanthium sericeum
Spear Stipa spp
Spinifex Triodia spp
Tall Oat Themeda avenacea
Wallaby Austrodanthonia caespitosa
White or Common Tussock Poa labillardieri
Wild Oats (introduced) Avena fatua
Woollybutt Eragrostis eriopoda
Others
Birds Nest Fern Asplenium nidus
Bracken Pteridium esculentum
Broadleaf Cumbungi Typha orientalis
Bush Banana Marsdenia australis
Bush Potato Ipomoea costata; I. polpha
Cabbage Palm Livistona australis
Cape York Lily Curcuma australasica
Coconut Cocos nucifera
Darwin Palm Ptychosperma bleeseri
Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea spp
Gymea Lily Doryanthes excelsa
Native Truffle Choiromyces aboriginum and other spp
New Zealand Spinach Tetragonia tetragonioides
Tree Fern Dicksonia antarctica Yam Daisy
murnong Microseris scapigera syn M. lanceolata
warran Dioscorea hastifolia
wukay (parsnip) Dioscorea transversa
Zamia Macrozamia reidlii
NOTES
Titles or page numbers which follow ‘&’ in any reference
denote more evidence on the same point.
Introduction
1 Curr 1883, 189–90.
2 J Banks 1982, 16, 89; Brownlea 147–8; Enright & Thomas 983–4, 988, 1002; Hallam 2002, 177–81.
3 Lightning: Bill Jackson 8 Feb 01; Bowman & Brown 167; JM Gilbert 144; Jackson 1999a, 3; R Jones 1975, 25–8; Kay 2007a; Kirkpatrick 1977, 3; Luke & McArthur 246, 256, 338; National Academies Forum 41–3; J Webster 9; BA Wilson 8.
4 Hallam 1975, 7.
5 Barlow 243–8; RC Ellis 1984, 1985; Frawley & Semple 199–214; Hallam 1975, 1986 116–32, 2002; Jackson 1965, 1968, 1973, 1999a, 1999b; Jones 1968, 1969; Lake 153–65, 270–3; Latz 1995, 2007; Merrilees; Rolls 1984a, 1984b, 1999; I Thomas 1991, 1993, 1994; EK Webb 9.
1 Curious landscapes
1 Parkin 189.
2 Parkin 174, 178.
3 27 Apr 1770. Parkinson 134.
4 4 Jun 1770. Parkin 280, & 243.
5 Blackwood 88–9.
6 Parkin 448.
7 2 Dec 1642. I Thomas 1994, 5, & 298.
8 Hovell 357–9.
9 Nov 1826. R Dawson 103.
10 Eyre vol 1, 156.
11 Sturt 1849 vol 2, 229–30.
12 Mossman & Banister 155, probably from T Walker 18.
13 Grass on good soil: Carron 44, 53; C Griffiths 8–9; Leichhardt 1847a, 31–2; Wilkinson 203.
14 Govett 3–4. Also picture 38; Andrews 1964, 60.
15 14 Apr 1865. Sholl 211, & 206.
16 Haygarth 136–7.
17 Pendergast 4.
18 22 May 1837. T Walker 145.
19 Bride 207; Dargavel 232, 240.
20 8 Feb 1834. Andrews 1979, 81.
21 10 Sep 1834. D Clark 439. Also Macquarie 152.
22 Govett 21–2, & 23. Also Cunningham J 4 Apr 1824, Reel 46, SRNSW.
23 Perry 14.
24 Sturt 1833 vol 1, xxxii.
25 Byrne 1987, 53.
26 Byrne 1987, 53. Also Birrell 20–30 & map.
27 6 Nov, 14 Dec 1844. Leichhardt 1847a, 31–2, 73.
28 Eyre vol 1, 35–6. Eyre’s examples: vol 1, 34, 149–50, 198, 208–9, 307, vol 2, 4, 7. Also S Hunter 91; Rolls 1999; Stuart 1865, 39.
29 Bischoff 165.
30 Gilmore 1934, 139–43. Tree bridges: Binks 93, 118–19, 126; Brodribb 23; Burn 14; Carron 117; Cross 4, 28, 148, 187, 202; Franklin 19; B Hiatt 193; Hovell 338, 350– 1; HRNSW vol 5, 495; J Kelly et al 32; Lee 193, 281; J Ross 53; Shellam 34; Vallance et al 508, 555.
31 Henderson 1832, 145; HF Thomas 109.
32 Angas 1847a vol 1, 220.
33 16 Feb 1827. F Ellis 29.
34 Jackson 1965, 30; Jackson 1999a, 1.
35 R Jones 1975, 26.
36 Jackson 1999a, 7.
37 Barlow 243. Also Flood 1989, 223; Reid 10; I Thomas 1991, 286–95.
38 9 Jul 1827. Dargavel et al 2002, 152–3.
39 10 Nov 1827. Dargavel et al 2002, 148.
40 Bowman & Jackson; Gunn J 30 Jan 1833, A316, 15–16, ML; Plomley 1966, 371.
41 25 Oct 1880. Savage 81–2, & 225. Also Horsfall 1991, 42.
42 Lake 2006, 153–65, 270–3.
43 BG; Barker 1990, 117–20; Cary et al 6; Griffiths 2001a, 8–9; Latz 1995, 38–9; Low 2002, 250; K Mills 232.
44 Noble 1997, 72.
45 Bowman 1998, 395; Kirkpatrick 1994, 69; Marsden-Smedley 1998a, 25.
46 BG; Bowman & Panton; Bowman 1995, 8–11; Bowman 1998, 392–3; Haynes 1985, 212–13; Norton 1903, 153; Price &Bowman.
47 Ward 2000b, 14.
48 Dovers 40–1.
49 Jurskis 2005, 257.
50 BG; Gott 2005; Kohen 1995, 108–9; Lunt & Morgan 84; JW Morgan.
51 Latz 1995, 19–22; Rose & Clarke 78.
52 Latz 1995, ix.
53 Nov 1826. R Dawson 108–9, & 52, 114.
54 Ellen & Fukui 157–86.
55 J Hunter 403.
56 18 Oct 1820. Macquarie 146, & 148.
57 11 Jun 1818, 8 Sep 1820. J Oxley 219, 291.
58 Ebsworth L 1826, B852, ML.
59 4 Nov 1830. SA Perry J c~ Eric Rolls &Elaine van Kempen.
60 Cross 16.
61 Haydon 25–6.
62 Mossman & Banister 62.
63 Giblin vol 2, 306.
64 Frankland 1997, 31.
65 Mitchell 1848, 137, & 261.
66 Bowen 209.
67 R olls 2002, 171–2.
68 James 269.
69 Moon 45.
70 Buchanan 76.
71 8 Dec 1830. GF Moore 1884, 33.
72 12 Jun 1831. Greig 1927, 24.
73 Barrow 5.
74 1 Nov 1845. Leichhardt 1847a, 463–4.
75 Brock 22.
76 Sturt 1849 vol 1, 286–7.
77 Eyre vol 1, 190.
78 Warburton 1875, 148.
79 Giles 1889, 176.
80 Lewis J 17 Feb 1875, SAPP 19/1876.
81 Parks: Angas 1847b, pl.1 & 20; Bennett 1834, 137; Boyce 156; Breton 1834, 91–3; Clark 1998 vol 1, 179; Cross 16–17; P Cunningham vol 1, 118; Darwin 441; R Dawson 48; Eyre vol 1, 190, vol 2, 43; Govett 21; T Griffiths 2002, 380; R Howitt 87, 108; Mackaness 1942, 327; Marsh 55, 74; K Mills 235; Mitchell 1839 vol 1, 328, vol 2, 168, 248; BE Norton 3; Plomley 1966, 385; Robinson J 1845, Ar4, 4, ML; Rosenman 66–7; J Ross 58; Sorell J 17 Dec 1821, HRA 3, vol 2, 644; Statham 27; Stokes vol 1, 287, vol 2, 231; Stuart SAPP 21/1863, 22; Sturt 1838, 19; Sturt 1849 vol 1, 94–5; Tietkins SAPP 1890/111, 6; T Walker 18; Warburton 1875, 148.
82 P Andrews 2006, 2008; Ratcliff 1936, 1948.
83 Extinctions: H Allen 1983, 15–22, 30–42; R Baker 50; Flannery 1994, 223–4, 237–8; Frawley & Semple 147–8; Garnett &Crowley; Latz 1995, 32; Lunney 2001; Olsen; Stanbury 18; EK Webb 9–10.
&n
bsp; 2 Canvas of a continent
1 Jeanette Hoorn 20 Dec 02; Ryan 2005, 2007; D Smyth.
2 Youl 85–6.
3 PIC T65 NK12/27, NLA.
4 D Smyth 9. Also Kolenberg 8, 12; Ryan 2005, 40; B Smith 262, 268.
5 I Thomas 1991, 1.
6 Dexter 168, 185; Hoddle FB375 sketch 50, 2/5000, SRNSW.
7 Fred Duncan 19 Feb 03.
8 Giblin vol 2, 306.
9 Fred Duncan 31 Jan 03.
10 Kirkpatrick et al 24–30; Marsden-Smedley 1998a; I Thomas 1991, 313–16.
11 Phillips 5–8.
12 15 Feb 1840, & 14 Feb, 3, 5, 18 Mar 1840. Roll CY2715, ML.
13 Feb 1846. WB Clarke 228.
14 Argue 30–5; Flood 1980, 92–6, 285; Good 149, 276–9.
15 D Clark 279–80. Also AG Hamilton 188.
16 John McEntee 16–18 Aug 07.
17 Aurousseau vol 2, 719.
18 Curr 1883, 185. Also Ratcliffe 1936, 20–1.
19 Arch Cruttenden Aug 07. Also Rolls 1999, 211.
20 Parkin 331, 363.
21 Cook 638–9.
22 BG; K Mills 234; S Hunter 91.
23 Jan 1804. Collins R, HRNSW vol 5, 306. Also J Oxley HRA 3, vol 1, 760–1.
24 B Smith 260.
25 AG3318 sketches 1–11, 99–105, TMAG c~ David Hansen.
26 Hansen; B Smith 258–68.
27 Glover 6 c~ Tim Bonyhady.
28 Glover 7, 9.
29 House of Commons 1812/341, app 78–9.
30 AH Campbell 1987, 25–63.
31 Glover 4–5.
32 Map, Kraehenbuehl et al 2001.
33 Stokes vol 2, 402.
34 26 Nov 1836. Linn 1991, 18. Also Twidale et al, 99.
35 14 Feb 1850. T Griffiths 1988, 78.
36 Angas 1847b, pl.33.
37 Angas 1847b, pl.29, 39.
38 Kraehenbuehl 1996, Kraehenbuehl et al, map 2000.
39 Moon 45.
40 12 Dec 1837. Backhouse 519.
41 Angas 1847b, pl.10, 53, 58; EC Frome, Adelaide and St Vincent’s Gulf from Glen Osmond road, 1845 (AGSA); von Guerard, Fall of the first creek near Glen Osmond, 1855 (NLA).
42 T Griffiths 1988, 69.
43 24 Jan 1839. Hahn 120–1, & 126 vs Buchhorn 67.
44 Sturt 1849 vol 2, 224. Also Chapman &Read 78.
45 Franklin D Dec 1840, MS114, NLA; Sturt 1838, 21.
