The Trans-Australian Wonderland

Book excerpt: The first book written on the natural history of life on the Nullabor Plain, was written by station-master A.G. Bolam and first published in 1923. The author recollects his times with Aboriginal trackers and workers in and around Ooldeah, as the great railway progressed from South Australia across to Western Australia, and in doing so looks at animal and bird life and the unique geographical feature of the Plain. Bolam studied the Ooldeah tribe and records their nomadic social life, their attitude to clothes and footwear, smoking, bartering, marriage, weapons, tools, whip making and water carrying. He records their approach to fire-making and smoke signals, medicine and surgery, amusements, decorations, corroborees and ceremonies, as well as deaths and burials. Of especial interest are his notes on message sticks, writing, tracking and procuring water in desert conditions.