The Australian National Travel Association was established in 1929 to promote Australia as a travel destination. Partly funded by the federal government, its board represented the interests of the railways, shipping and hotels set to benefit from an increase in tourism. To support this promotion, a monthly magazine was established. The first issue of Walkabout appeared in November 1934.
Edited by Charles Holmes for many years, the magazine sought to tell the story of 'the romantic Australia that exists beyond the cities'. The subsequent success of the magazine ensured that the stories and images it published bolstered a romantic idea of Australia in the popular imagination. Walkabout published a variety of genres, including geographical articles, travel stories, historical essays and studies of flora and fauna. The portrayal of Aborigines, while sympathetic, was sometimes patronising and often served to reinforce 'primitive' stereotypes.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Walkabout published many articles by regional writers such as Henrietta Drake Brockman, Mary Durack, Henry G. Lamond and W. E. Harney (qq.v.). Other contributors included Ernestine Hill, H. D. Williamson, Alan Marshall, Eleanor Dark and Rex Ingamells (qq.v.). By the late 1950s, Walkabout began to explore urban areas and cultural topics, following Robin Boyd's 1959 article 'Australia and the Arts'. During the 1960s and early 1970s, many Australian writers, artists and entertainers were featured and contributions were received from established writers such as Gavin Casey, D'Arcy Niland), Oodgeroo, Dal Stivens, Ruth Park and George Johnston (qq.v.). The pseudonymous 'Scrutarius' (q.v.) contributed more than one hundred book reviews between 1953 and 1971, commenting on novels, poetry, autobiography, biography and cultural history.
Walkabout ceased production in July 1974, following proposed reforms in the new Australian Tourist Commission.
