Stringybark Publishing, Media Release, 27 July 2021

Author: Dr David Lindley

Dr David Lindley’s long anticipated history of the Northern Snowy Mountains was launched by the Mayor of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Abb McAlister on 24 June to a packed crowd at Gundagai Library. The book is in two volumes, with Volume 1 covering the exploration of the mountains from Long Plain to Goobarragandra with a comprehensive description of the many gold mines and gold mining ventures in the region. Volume 2 examines grazing, timber-milling, eucalyptus oil distillation, fishing and other recreational activities.

“History can be talked about all the time but when it’s only talked about it’s eventually forgotten. So, to have it documented in a book like this is fantastic. It’s then there forever, it’s never gone,” said Mayor McAlister.

David Lindley said “The northern Snowy Mountains region is considered some of the most rugged and untouched wilderness in Kosciuszko National Park, but this book describes in rich detail the hardships and isolation experienced by prospectors and miners, graziers and drovers, timber-getters and sawmillers and eucalyptus distillers. The mountains are not an untouched wilderness.”

“For the first time the European human history of the area, from 1824 to the creation of the Kosciusko National Park in May 1969 is told.”

The book contains more than 240 previously unpublished historical and contemporary photographs, 30 detailed, full-colour maps, many of mining sites. Books are available mail order from: www.plesyumi.com

Background

Dr David Lindley is a geologist and has spent much of his working life in Papua New Guinea. Born in Gundagai and educated at Tumut High School and the University of New South Wales, his historical research has centred on southern New South Wales and eastern Papua. His technical publications include more than 60 items on the geology of Papua New Guinea. David is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists.