Great Australian Places

by Graham Seal
Published by Allen & Unwin
ISBN 9781761067136

Australia has many big places, such as the Big Banana, the Big Prawn, the Big Merino, the Big Lobster and while they are all interesting in their own way, there are many other interesting places scattered around the country. Some are embedded in folklore or linked to historical events such as where the Queensland and Northern Territory Air Services (Qantas) began - two places make that claim as you will find out.

The stories are divided into sections pioneering places, dangerous places, unsettling places, sacred places, wild places, imagined place and our places.

In his distinctive easy going story telling style, Graham Seal writes about some of these iconic places and many more interesting places in his latest book sharing some extraordinary and some ordinary experiences with readers.

He has included poems from renowned poets such as Banjo Paterson and Lawson as well as the interesting and sometimes disputed history of some endearing songs such as “I’ve Been Everywhere” which was adopted and adapted by several countie and, “The Pub With No Beer”.

Reading this book is like going on a relaxing and informative armchair journey as Graham Seal regales stories from far flung places in remote areas of the country as well as in the suburbs of the capital cities and smaller towns.

Reading about the interesting phenomena that happened in the 1950’s - 1960/s era in Western Australia makes one sit up and take notice while wondering how on earth did that happen? Or go the place where the crows fly backward, a clever little explanation that makes perfectly good sense.

Surprisingly the old and sadly now almost extinct milk bar, deli, or corner shop - names vary according to which state you live in, all had similar beginnings and run by families from various nationalities as migration developed, were very much part of their local communities. What they served these communities was often quite different with some similarities

Stories and the legends from the old shearing sheds give an insight into life long before the air conditioned places they are now, how the overseer at the biggest shearing shed, Burrawang had to ride a bicycle to get from one end of the shed to the other.

Plus some of the interesting and sometimes fascinating stories of Australian’s who served in the World War I and II in Europe are also included.

One of the many outstanding yarns is what happened in The Big Scrub and the story of The Pelican Spree - no pelicans involved.

Do you know where the centre of Australia is? You maybe surprised to find that a few explorers and surveyors worked out where the centre is, but they are all different, close-ish, but different.

If you are invested in lesser known Australian history or the stories behind what you do know, you will most likely enjoy reading this relaxed, easy going writing by master story teller Graham Seal.

Other books by Graham Seal and another jolly good read, Great Australian Mysteries. I 'd say buy both Great Australian Places and Great Australian Mysteries at the same time.He also wrote Australia's Funniest Yarns

This is independent review, I am not paid by the publishers, so.If you Liked this review, Buy me a coffee