Outback Book Contents

To date I've published 3 coffee-table style books featuring more than 800 of my best photographs, taken on nearly 60 Australian outback cattle stations since 1984. 

You will not find anything else quite like these books anywhere, because nothing similar has ever been published. The three book titles are:

1. 'Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows' (Barkly Cattle Stations)
2. 'Life as an Australian Horseman' (Images of Australia's largest cattle stations)
3. 'A Million Acre Masterpiece' (Images of Australia's largest cattle stations)

Some people like lots of detail. If that's you, then read on, because all the in-depth questions I'm asked are answered below.
But if you don't have time for that, here's the ordering page.

What makes these books different?

• These coffee table style books contain more photographs taken on more cattle stations, spread over a wider area. 
• I took all the photographs (from helicopters, horseback, bullcatchers and on foot) and I wrote every single caption.  This is very unusual, and it means that as well as including accurate details, the captions include interesting information and personal stories that relate directly to each image.
• Because I've visited so many cattle stations I understand what makes each unique, so these differences have been emphasised - via the images and text. 

Dimension & style details:

All three books are similar dimensions and print style and complement one another, as a good set.

• Good quality, sewn pages, durable hardcover
• Gloss laminated dust jacket
• 305mm x 200mm (approximately A4 size); landscape format. An ideal mailing size.

What is the difference between the books "Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows", "A Million Acre Masterpiece" & "Life as an Australian Horseman"?

SUMMARY (purchase recommendations, to help you choose):

If you're purchasing one or two books rather than the set of three, and can't decide between them, here's a quick summary of the differences:

• If you're seeking a book containing a glossary explaining the witty terms & expressions typically used on Australia's remote cattle stations, then 'A Million Acre Masterpiece' is the book to choose.
• If you're looking for a book that illustrates and explains what it's like to work on one of these vast cattle stations - right through from getting the horses in before dawn, to mustering, dinnercamp, yardwork then loading cattle onto huge roadtrains - then 'Life as an Australian Horseman' is the book I recommend.  This book also has a chapter on bronco branding (unique to Australia), and the most photographs of horses and cattle in action.
• If you're especially interested in aerial photographs of the largest mobs of cattle in the world and/or the Northern Territory's iconic Barkly Tableland region (including Brunette Downs, the world's largest pastoral lease), then 'Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows' is the book to choose.

But if you have any queries, don't hesitate to ring me or send an email (contact details below).

DETAILS:

"BIGGEST MOBS-LONGEST SHADOWS":

• Published in late 2015
• "Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows" has a few more pages than the preceding book, "Life as an Australian Horseman". 
• 220 printed pages in total; of which 214 are numbered. 
• 347 photos are included, the best picked from many thousands. 
• Unlike the previous books, the cattle stations in "Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows" are all located in a specific region, rather than spread right across Northern Australia.  And what a region to feature!  It is the Northern Territory's iconic Barkly Tableland, and every single cattle station is included.  Why the Barkly Tableland?  Australia has the biggest cattle stations in the world, and the highest concentration of big stations and big mobs are found on the Barkly.  This is top-drawer, blue-ribbon country.  Quality and scale is why many of these cattle stations are famous, and these multi-million dollar properties are tightly held. 
• The NT Barkly Tableland cattle stations are:  Alexandria, Alroy Downs, Anthony Lagoon, Argadargada, Austral Downs, Avon Downs, Banka Banka, Beetaloo, Benmara, Brunchilly, Brunette Downs, Cresswell Downs, Eva Downs, Gallipoli (outstation), Hayfield-Shenandoah, Helen Springs, Lake Nash, Mittiebah, Mungabroom, Newcastle Waters, Rockhampton Downs, Rocklands, Soudan (outstation), Sturt Plains, Ucharonidge and Walhallow.  Though space was at a premium due to the number of cattle stations included, this outback book also includes some history of the Barkly Tableland and other subjects, such as the Brunette (ABC) races and wildlife.

There has never been a book published that covers the whole of this region.  "Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows" is a celebration of an amazing but little known part of Australia.

"LIFE AS AN AUSTRALIAN HORSEMAN":

• Published in 2009
• "Life as an Australian Horseman" has quite a few more pages than the first book, "A Million Acre Masterpiece".
• Bestseller (thousands of copies sold)
• 209 numbered pages arranged into 15 chapters, plus 9 extra pages.
• 282 photos, including a special chapter on broncoing containing many unique images taken on two of the cattle stations that were still bronco branding as part of their everyday work routine, which is unique to Australia and now exceedingly rare.  Plus extra photos of Australian stockwhips and cattle dogs at work. 
• This coffee-table style book also features cattle stations spread across Northern Australia, but the photographs are arranged in the order that work proceeds.  So readers are taken right through the usual sequence of cattle work, from go to whoa.  The book starts with horses being caught and saddled and chapters continue through the usual stockwork sequence, spread over several days:  mustering, dinnercamps, walking and watering mobs, yardups and stockcamps; to yardwork then the end stages - trucking cattle and returning to the station quarters and gardens.  
• No glossary in "Life as an Australian Horseman" because this book has been designed to complement the earlier book, "A Million Acre Masterpiece", rather than repeat what has gone before. 
• Cattle stations included in "Life as an Australian Horseman" are located in WA's Kimberley region, the Northern Territory and Queensland:  Wave Hill, Napier Downs, Glengyle, Legune, Soudan, Meda, Lucy Creek, Carlton Hill, Nockatunga, Humbert River, Larrawa, Rosewood, Durham Downs.

"A MILLION ACRE MASTERPIECE":

• First published in late 2005, the original print run of this book sold out and so did the 2008 reprint.  Due to popular demand it was reprinted again and there are a few copies still available.  However there are no plans to reprint it or the two subsequent books, once the current editions have sold out.
• 149 numbered pages arranged into 13 chapters, plus 13 extra pages.
• 204 of the best cattle station photos I took from 1984 onwards; when cattle still had full sets of horns and horseriders wore felt hats not helmets - and it was common rather than unusual for stockyards to be made of timber and windmills to be fully functional. 
• Includes a substantial glossary explaining the meaning of many quirky words and expressions used almost exclusively on these remote properties and used in many of the photo captions.  These words and expressions illustrate the typically dry humour of Australian regional residents.
• Cattle stations included in "A Million Acre Masterpiece" are located in Queensland's Cape York Peninsula, Gulf and Channel Country, the Northern Territory's Top End and Western Australia's East and West Kimberley regions: Victoria River Downs, Springvale, Wrotham Park, Nockatunga, Brunette Downs, Wernadinga, Mount House, South Galway, Carlton Hill, Gamboola, Alexandria, Nogo, Mount Sanford, Newcastle Waters, Lilyvale, Mabel Downs, La Belle Downs, Gladevale, Delta Downs, Rosewood, Carpentaria Downs, Brooking Springs, Strathmore, Tanbar.

Book ISBN numbers:

"Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows" - ISBN 9780975812921

"Life as an Australian Horseman" - ISBN 9780975812914

"A Million Acre Masterpiece"* - ISBN 9780975812907

*The ISBN system changed to 13 digits prior to the third reprint of "A Million Acre Masterpiece", so the earlier editions have the shorter 10 digit ISBN.

"ISBN" stands for "International Standard Book Number"; a unique number given to every book published. The ISBN system is used by the book trade, worldwide.

Apart from the fact that these books feature hundreds of photos of life on the world's largest cattle stations, what makes these books different to other Australian landscape photography books?

• The unusually large number of photos included and the quality and diversity of the photos.  Many aspects of cattle station life have been rarely photographed by professional photographers who also understand the work. Infrequently covered subjects include stockcamps and station bronco branding.  The books also include photos taken of mustering in country inaccessible to vehicles.  Many of these outback photos have been taken from horseback and helicopters, giving a perspective rarely seen.
• Regarding 'Life as an Australian Horseman' & 'A Million Acre Masterpiece': The huge spread of Australian outback landscape included is unusual.  These books feature outback cattle stations right across northern Australia from coast to coast (Qld, NT, WA); roughly 3,500 km from north to south and 3,000 km from east to west.
• Regarding 'Biggest Mobs - Longest Shadows'; never before has a book been published that features every single cattle station on the Northern Territory's blue-ribbon Barkly Tableland.  This is where the largest number of huge pastoral leases are situated, and the biggest mobs of cattle.
• The unusually long period of time consistently covered - the earliest photos in 'A Million Acre Masterpiece' were taken in 1984.
• The image captions have been written by the person who took the photos.  This is very rare.  I have lived in the bush for years and specialised in cattle station photography for more than three decades, so the captions accompanying the photos match up perfectly.  Captions are accurate and full of fascinating information.
• All the cattle stations included are impressively large however amongst those that are already well known are others that are equally interesting but not well known. 
• These Australian landscape photos are real.  The scenes are completely genuine not set-ups and the colours are authentic not digitally altered.  So when you are looking at these photos, it is easy to imagine yourself actually there in the heat and dust, amongst the action.  This is the sort of feedback I receive from readers, but no need to take my word for it - check the Testimonials page (which includes reader's names - you might see someone you know there).

Who are these books ideal for?:

• People who are hard to buy for.
• People who are interested in the Australian bush and/or who passionately love the country, and "Western" movie lovers.
• Cattlemen & women, horse lovers and anyone else involved in agriculture.
• Anyone who has dreamed of visiting or working on an outback cattle station or who is about to head off to work on one.
• Business people involved with rural residents, investors and agribusiness generally.
• Lovers of Australian landscape photography, who want to view parts of Australia they have never seen before, rather than more photos of the reef, rock and rainforest.

Refer to Testimonials to read messages written by people of all ages, in all walks of life, from all over Australia and other countries.

These outback cattle station books are also perfect for:

• Helping family and friends understand your way of life on a cattle station.
• Bringing back memories of living in the bush (reminiscing).
• Inspiring younger generations to visit or work in the bush, even if just during a gap year.
• Making expat Aussies feel homesick or motivating visitors (if you want a visit from a family member or friend overseas, send them these books to get them booking their plane ticket - especially when it is cold and bleak where they are living).
• Unique, memorable Australian corporate gifts - easy and cost effective to mail anywhere in the world. 

The cattle stations included in the books are located across northern Australia, where most of the largest properties are located:

• Queensland's remote Cape York Peninsula, Gulf Country and arid but productive Channel Country
• The Northern Territory's vast grasslands of the Barkly Tableland, sandy red country of the northern Alice Springs region, swampy Marine Plains and historic stations of the Victoria River District
• Western Australia's beautifully rugged East and West Kimberley regions, an area that is approximately the same size of Victoria

Photos range from vast aerial views of outback landscapes, dusty horseback mustering action and contemplative evening stockcamp scenes - to homesteads and gardens, windmills & artesian bores, roadtrains and mustering choppers, bush racing and rodeos.   Many photos have been taken from horseback and mustering choppers.   Horses are still essential for mustering stock on these huge cattle stations so stock horses - working and resting - are included in the majority of photos.

Answers to many frequently asked questions such as postage costs, delivery times, overseas ordering information and bulk discounts can be found in the Book Information pages accessible from the main page.  But in summary; 

Price & Book Discounts:

Delivery to Australian addresses:

2 books - $52.80 each ($105.60 in total; including GST & postage).  Orders for 2 or more books also come with a free calico carrybag. 

1 book ordered singly - $63.00 plus $6.30 GST ($69.30 in total; including GST & postage).  

Boxes of 10 or more books - receive additional, very generous discounts.  Don't hesitate to ask me for a quote.

Delivery to other countries:

Single books mailed overseas are $63.00 plus postage.  All books sent to other countries also come with a free calico carrybag.

Book Postage & packaging:

The cost of postage & packaging is included in the price of books sent to Australian addresses. (The current cost of postage & packaging material involved in each 3kg parcel is more than $17.)  Postage is charged for books mailed overseas however it is much less than the standard rate charged by Australia Post for Overseas Airmail (and if you order a book to be mailed direct to an overseas address, you are not charged GST either).

Free:

A free calico carrybag screen-printed with cattle station images is included in all Australian orders for two books, and all overseas-mailed orders for single books (while stock is available).  Free outback greeting cards or other items are sometimes sent out with orders, also.  These special offers are usually detailed on the blog.

Buying gifts & having them sent direct to the recipient:

I can save you time and money by mailing gifts of books direct for you, to anywhere in the world.  For further details please refer to Book & Card F.A.Q.

Books personally signed by the author:

Books can be personally signed by the author, just tick the relevant section on the order form.  And if you'd like the recipient's name written in as well, simply add their name and a note to the 'comments' section of the online ordering page.  

Satisfaction guarantee:

If you are dissatisfied with the books for any reason you can return them for a refund within 5 days*, providing they are returned in pristine condition (*except for books signed with a specifically personal message, because these cannot be resold).  For more information refer to Refunds & Returns.  To date, thousands of books have been sold and none have ever been returned for a refund.  

What do other people think of these photographs and books?

Hundreds of people of all ages, in all walks of life and locations around Australia and overseas have sent me comments, explaining what they think of these outback books.  You can read some of these comments from Australian and overseas buyers on the Testimonials page. You might see a comment by someone you know.  If you have a book, please don't forget to let me know what you think too.

Read Testimonials »