L I S T OF PRINCIPAL WORKS CONSULTED.
Allen, James—HUt/ynj of AMtrnlia.
Bennett, Samuel—Sistory of Australiaii Dkroverij and Colon{2at{on.
Clarke, Rev. W. B.—Remarks on (he Sedimentari/ Fomatione of New
South IPnZ««.
Collios, WiUiam—International Atlas a «ri Geography.
Cook, Captaiu—Voyages of Captain Cook.
FoiTsst, Hon. Jolui, C.M.G.—iVoie« on IT'esieiii A^tstralia.
Gordon and Gotcli—Ausl/ralian Eandhoolc, 1S85.
Gould, John, F.R.S., ka.,—Birds of Avstralia.
Grerille, Edward—Year Book of Aiistriilia, 1883.
Gnilfoyle, W. R-, T. L . S . — B o t a n y .
Hayter, H. H., C.M.G., &c.—Victorian Tear Book, various years.
Krefft, Gerard, F.h.S.—Australian Vertebrata—Fossil and Recent.
Krefft, Gerard, F.L.S.—Mammah of Australia.
Lyne, Charles—/juiuiiri«« of K^ South Waks.
Niison, A.—Timber Trees of New South Wales.
Pvgh'g Queensland Almanac.
Royal Society of New Soutk Wales •oceedings foi' Various Years.
Rnssell, E. C., B.A,, P.R.A.S.—Physical Geography and Climate of
New South Wales.
Smyth, R. Bi-ougli—Aborigines of Victoria.
Stow, J. P.—Sistory, Productions, and Natural Resources of South
Australia.
Sturt—Central Australia.
Tenison-Woods, Rev. J, E-, P.G.S., F.L.S.—i"/»/» nixZ Fisheries of
New South Wales.
•Wallace, A. B-, F.H.G.S.—^iwiraiuiia.
Wilkins, Geography of New South
Wools, W., Ph. D., V.L.S.—Plants Indigenous in the Neighbottrhood
of Sydwy.
Worsnop, Thomas—Eistory of the City of Adelaide.
M
P R E F A C E .
r p H E recent rapid development of the Colonies of Australia, and the increasing importance
a s s u m e d in relation to the British Nation and the great commercial centres of the
w o r l d , have induced the Publisher to place befor e the Publ i c an ATLAS OF AUSTRALIA,
f u l l y up to the latest date, and containing authentic information on all matters of a
g e o g r a p h i c a l character, pertaining to t h e great Island-continent of the Southerh Hemisphere.
T h e absence of a work of this class first suggested the desirability of producing a literary
c o m p i l a t i o n that woul d recommend itself as a comprehens ive reference, not onl y t o Australians,
b u t to other communities interested in the commerce and growing trade of the Colonies.
L i t t l e claim can be made to originality, as the Editor willingly acknowledges his ind
e b t e d n e s s to the various scientists and others who have treated on Australia at different
t i m e s . An endeavour has, however, been made to impart variety and interest to a
s u b j e c t , generally regarded by readers of light literature as dry. The descriptions have been
c o m p i l e d in a popular form, in order to attract the attention of those who aim to become
w e l l - i n f o r m e d on all Colonial matters. Statistics, so far as possible, have been reduced to
t a b l e s . Minute details, often only of interest to a few, have been avoided, and an attempt
m a d e to keep to outlines, in order to stimulate research, and induce further study. It will be
a t once acknowledged, that almost every branch of the subject could be amplified into a
s e p a r a t e volume; the question, therefore, h o w to deal fully and satisfactorily wi t h each part,
w i t h o u t disturbing the general balance of the whole, and giving undue prominence to one
s e c t i o n at the expense of an equally important one, frequently arose for consideration.
One of the principal aims of the Editor has been to collect all facts of a
g e o g r a p h i c a l character in regard to Australia, current in the various Reports, and other
l i t e r a t u r e of an ephemeral character, and, together with the results of his own experience,
m o u l d them into a form acceptable to the reading public, man y of w h o m lack the time and
o p p o r t u n i t y to wade through columns of figures, and cull the valuable from the large mass
of extraneous matter. In this task great assistance has been rendered by the various
G o v e r n m e n t Departments to whi c h the custody and compilation of the different classes of
f a c t s have been entrusted. The best thanks of the Publisher are due to the Departments
of Lands and Survey, in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, for thei r generous aid
i n regard to the production of maps of those Colonies. To the Government Statist of
V i c t o r i a , for his concise tables, the information embodied in which has been largely drawn
u p o n , considerable obligation is acknowledged. The Publisher also wishes to thank, in
p a r t i c u l a r , the Statistical Departments of New South Wales and Queensland, fo?» the aid
r e c e i v e d from their condensed and valuable returns.
I t would be impossible, within the limits of a preface, to mention all the various
s o u r c e s f rom whi c h information has been obtained. A list of the principal works consulted
is appended hereto.
R O B E R T MC L E A N .
S y d n e y ,