19th-Century Australian Travel Writing
Ernest Giles (1835-1897) explorer, Knight Chevalier of the Crown of Italy, F.R.G.S., London, Gold Medalist of the R.G.S for 1880 and fellow of various European geographical societies, was an explorer and early settler in South Australia and Victoria. In Australia Twice Traversed, Giles collated his journals from five exploring expeditions. His 1880 The Journal of a Forgotten Expedition was reproduced verbatim, accompanied by numerous illustrations and maps. This travel narrative described the landscape and exploration of central South Australia and Western Australia, over ten years after Giles' expedition. Established with a history of Australian exploration, this detailed narrative described Giles' journeys, experiences, the landscape, flora and fauna and Giles’ interactions with Aboriginal populations. The images portray encounters with the Aboriginal peoples, landscapes, and mapped charts of the party's journeys. Giles previously published Geographic Travels in Central Australia from 1872 to 1874 (1875) and The Journal of a Forgotten Expedition (1880).