Last of the Australian Explorers: The Story of Donald Mackay by Frank Clune

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Tiny red mark on front cover. No dust jacket. Book is now in a non-adhesive glossy protective cover. The interior and binding are also very good, especially for its age.

A biography of Donald Mackay (1870-1958) written by his friend Frank Clune.

He inherited considerable financial resources on his father's death in 1890 and put them to good use by financing and participating in expeditions in the Northern Territory and Central Australia.

In 1926 and 1928, he led his first Australian explorations to the Petermann Ranges and Arnhem Land, with surgeon and anthropologist Herbert Basedow. These were notable for the strong relationships they established with local Indigenous people.

Between 1930 and 1937 Mackay financed and supervised four aerial surveys of remote areas of Central Australia. This produced more useful maps than had previously existed and added considerably to existing knowledge of these areas. The newly discovered Lake Mackay was named in his honour. Naturalist and broadcaster P Crosbie Morrison participated in the first of these surveys.

Mackay attracted some controversy because of his remarks about harsh treatment meted out to Indigenous people. (Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers, please note that this book may contain descriptions and/or images of people who have passed away.