Tom Petrie’s Reminiscences of Early Queensland

Constance Campbell Petrie

Preview of the book

A Queensland classic, originally published by Watson Ferguson & Company in 1904, this book brings together stories that first appeared in The Queenslander as a series of articles. Many of these writings reflect early colonial perspectives on Aboriginal people and were later collected and published by Tom Petrie’s daughter, Constance Campbell Petrie.

The book also offers a brief sketch of the early days of the Queensland colony from 1837, seen through the eyes of Tom Petrie, a prominent early settler who was widely regarded at the time as an authority on Aboriginal culture. It contains a broad range of observations and records, including vocabulary and accounts that are historically significant, providing insight into both colonial life and early interactions between settlers and Aboriginal communities.