Walker in the Wilderness: The Life of R J Anketell

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Previous owner has signed inside page.

In Walker in the Wilderness the exploits of Richard John Anketell, engineer/surveyor are traced as he opened up large tracts of Australia. He is one of a band of intrepid public servants who lived and worked in an inhospitable country. His life work is an integral part of Western Australian history and, in the broader context, the nation's history.

His efforts and those of other public servants engaged in similar pioneering work have been undeservedly overlooked. Whether looking for water for survival or negotiating with settlers for politicians, his skills were tested and were all part of the job.

Walker in the Wilderness brings to life the dangers, harshness and fascination of the lonely Nullarbor, the Sandy Desert and the Tasmanian wilderness as it traces the exploits and humanity of this intrepid surveyor/explorer and the men and animals under his command. (backcover)

He was notably instrumental in the Transcontinental Railway Survey in 1901 and the preparation for the Peel group settlement in the 1920s.