The botanical wonders of Queensland along with the dangers to the Australian natural environment are covered in the above bundle of books recently acquired from various sources.
By Peter Simon
The profusely illustrated book on adventurous Ellis Rowan (1848-l922) , by Judith McKay , published by the Queensland Museum, was of particular interest . On a wall in my padded den is the framed Ellis Rowan engraving below of Australian butterflies in a floral setting .
It was salvaged from my ruined by Cyclone Tracy bound in copy of the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia , published in Sydney from 1883-1886 in 42 parts , with 800 engravings, described as a monumental venture ,conceived by American Silas Lyon Moffetts .
Rowan was one of the many artists and specialist writers who contributed to the fabulous work which outlined the discovery, geography and general development of Australasia .
Described as a small, frail woman of unquenchable spirit, Rowan , born in Melbourne, painted flowers, birds and butterflies in their native habit .This took her to Northern Australia , the Torres Strait and two years in New Guinea , painting birds of paradise , where she caught malaria .
Her work, exhibited in London , made such an impact that she spent 12 years illustrating books on American flora by Alice Lounsberry, with whom she went on expeditions in the USA.
McKay's book contains many interesting black and white photographs of North Queensland , including a shot of Townsville's Queen's Hotel , on The Strand , still standing , above, where she stayed in 1912 and on other occasions .
Included in the Margaret Shaw Collection , Special Collections section of Townsville's James Cook University's Eddie Koiki Mabo Memorial Library, is the following 1912 Christmas presentation copy of Bill Baillie , the adventures of much travelled West Australian pet Bilby , containing eight Rowan illustrations , first published in 1908.
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Wildflower artist and conservationist Kathleen McArthur's Living on the Coast ,with a longtime interest in the Caloundra area , presents striking floral colour plates of Queensland with a strong warning about the continual damage being done to coastal landscapes . It is a powerful message , backed up by black and white damage photographs, supported by academic comment from America. Channel 7 is about to air a report on the massive problems of the Caloundra coastal strip .
