Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The environmental history of Australian rivers: a neglected field of opportunity?

Paul I. Boon
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

School of Geography, The University of Melbourne, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia. Email: paul.boon@unimelb.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 71(1) 1-45 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18372
Submitted: 26 September 2018  Accepted: 25 May 2019   Published: 9 October 2019

Abstract

Historical ecology documents environmental change with scientific precepts, commonly by using statistical analyses of numerical data to test specific hypotheses. It is usually undertaken by ecologists. An alternative approach to understanding the natural world, undertaken instead by historians, geographers, sociologists, resource economists or literary critics, is environmental history. It attempts to explain in cultural terms why and how environmental change takes place. This essay outlines 10 case studies that show how rivers have affected perceptions and attitudes of the Australian community over the past 200+ years. They examine the influence at two contrasting scales, namely, the collective and the personal, by investigating the role that rivers had in the colonisation of Australia by the British in 1788, the establishment of capital cities, perceptions of and attitudes to the environment informed by explorers’ accounts of their journeys through inland Australia, the push for closer settlement by harnessing the country’s rivers for navigation and irrigation, anxiety about defence and national security, and the solastalgia occasioned by chronic environmental degradation. Historical ecology and environmental history are complementary intellectual approaches, and increased collaboration across the two disciplines should yield many benefits to historians, to ecologists, and to the conservation of Australian rivers more widely.


References

Abbott, C. L. A. (1948). Australia’s frontier province. The Geographical Journal 111, 22–31.
Australia’s frontier province.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

ABC News (2013). Bunyip billabong ignites mystery. ABC News, 21 November 2013. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2013-11-21/bunyip-legend/5108398 [Verified 3 August 2018].

Ackroyd, P. (2007). ‘Thames: Sacred River.’ (Chatto and Windus: London, UK.)

Adam, P. (2017). Can ideas be dangerous? Australian Zoologist 38, 329–374.
Can ideas be dangerous?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Aird, J. A. (1956). The economic value of irrigation projects. In ‘The Water Resources of Australia: their Control and Development’, 29–30 November 1955, Sydney, NSW, Australia. pp. 57–65. (New South Wales University of Technology: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Albrecht, G. (2012). The age of solastalgia. Available at https://theconversation.com/the-age-of-solastalgia-8337 [Verified 27 July 2018].

Albrecht, G., Sartore, G. M., Connor, L., Higginbotham, N., Freeman, S., Kelly, B., Stain, H., Tonna, A., and Pollard, G. (2007). Solastalgia: the distress caused by environmental change. Australasian Psychiatry 15, S95–S98.
Solastalgia: the distress caused by environmental change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18027145PubMed |

Andrews, J. (1966). The emergence of the wheat belt in southeastern Australia to 1930. In ‘Frontiers and Men: a Volume in Memory of Griffith Taylor (1880–1963).’ (Ed. J. Andrews.) pp. 5–65. (Cheshire: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Anonymous (2007). George Collingridge. Design and art Australia online. Available at https://www.daao.org.au/bio/george-collingridge/biography/ [Verified 7 August 2018].

Appleton, J. (1975). ‘The Experience of Landscape.’ (John Wiley and Sons: London, UK.)

Argent, R. M. (2016). ‘Australia State of the Environment 2016: Inland Water.’ (Department of the Environment and Energy: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Art Gallery of South Australia (2005). Evening shadows, backwater of the Murray, South Australia. Available at https://ww.artgallery.sa.gov.au/TLF/01/ [Verified 2/08/2018]

Arthur, J. M. (2002). Natural beauty, man-made. In ‘Words for Country: Landscape and Language in Australia’. (Eds T. Bonyhady and T. Griffiths.) pp. 191–205. (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Arthur, J. M. (2003). ‘The Default Country: a Lexical Cartography of Twentieth-century Australia.’ (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Auchmuty, J. J. (1970). ‘The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay, with Contributions by Other Officers of the First Fleet and Observations on Affairs of the Time by Lord Auckland.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Australian Academy of Science (2019). ‘Investigation of the Causes of Mass Fish Kills in the Menindee Region NSW over the Summer of 2018–2019.’ (Australian Academy of Science: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Australian Water Exploration Company (2014). ‘Vast Projects Meet the Challenge of a Dry Land’, version 6.2. (Australian Water Exploration Company: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Babbage, R. (1990). ‘A Coast Too Long: Defending Australia Beyond the 1990s.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Bailey, P. C., Boon, P. I., Blinn, D., and Williams, W. D. (2006). Salinity as an ecological perturbation to rivers, streams and wetlands of arid and semi-arid zones. In ‘Ecology of Desert Rivers.’ (Ed. R. Kingsford.) pp. 280–314. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Barnard, M. (1940). Dry spell. In ‘The Persimmon Tree and Other Stories’. pp. 152–160. (Clarendon Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Bayly, I. (2009). ‘Len Beadell’s Legacy: Australia’s Atomic Bomb and Rocket Roads.’ (Bas Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Begon, M., Harper, J. L., and Townsend, C. R. (1996). ‘Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities.’ (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK.)

Benson, J. S., and Redpath, P. A. (1997). The nature of pre-European native vegetation in south-eastern Australia: a critique of Ryan, D. G., Ryan J. R. and Starr, B. J. (1995). The Australian landscape: observations of explorers and early settlers. Cunninghamia 5, 285–328.

Besser, L. (2017). Pumped: who’s benefitting from the billions spent on the Murray–Darling? Available at http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/pumped/8727826 [Verified 11 May 2018].

Bevan, I. (1953). (Ed.). ‘The Sunburnt Country: Profile of Australia.’ (Collins: London, UK.)

Bjomlund, H., Connor, J., Crase, L., Davis, R., Grafton, Q., Harris, G., Hatton, D., Kingsford, R., Paton, D., Quiggin, J., Wheeler, S., and Williams, J. (2018). The Murray–Darling Declaration. Available at https://murraydeclaration.org/ [Verified 21 September 2018].

Blainey, G. (1954). ‘The Peaks of Lyell.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Blainey, G. (1966). ‘The Tyranny of Distance: How Distance Shaped Australia’s History’, revised edn [1982]. (Sun Books: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Blainey, G. (1978). ‘The Rush that Never Ended: a History of Australian Mining’, 3rd edn. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Blainey, G. (1980). ‘A Land Half Won.’ (Macmillan: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Blaxell, G. (2004). ‘The River: Sydney Cover to Parramatta.’ (Halstead Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Bolton, G. (1976). The historian as artists and interpreter of the environment. In ‘Man and the Landscape in Australia: Towards an Ecological Vision’. (Eds G. Seddon and M. Davis.) pp. 113–124. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Bonyhady, T. (2000). ‘The Colonial Earth.’ (The Miegunyah Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Bonyhady, T., and Griffiths, T. (Eds) (2002). ‘Words for Country: Landscape and Language in Australia.’ (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Bonython, C. W., and Mason, B. (1953). The filling and drying of Lake Eyre. The Geographical Journal 119, 321–330.
The filling and drying of Lake Eyre.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boon, P. I. (2014). Rehabilitating wetlands in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site: the pros and cons of community involvement. Victorian Naturalist 131, 106–114.

Boon, P. I. (2017). ‘The Hawkesbury River: a Social and Natural History.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Boon, P. I., and Prahalad, V. (2017). Ecologists, economics and politics: problems and contradictions in applying neoliberal ideology to nature conservation in Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 23, 115–132.
Ecologists, economics and politics: problems and contradictions in applying neoliberal ideology to nature conservation in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boon, P. I., Cook, P., and Woodland, R. (2016). The challenges posed by chronic environmental change in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site. Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 721–737.
The challenges posed by chronic environmental change in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Boon, P. I., Rosengren, N., Frood, D., Oates, A., and Reside, J. (2019). Why has Phragmites australis persisted in the increasingly saline Gippsland Lakes? A test of three competing hypotheses. Marine and Freshwater Research 70, 469–492.
Why has Phragmites australis persisted in the increasingly saline Gippsland Lakes? A test of three competing hypotheses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2001). Future eating and country keeping: what role has environmental history in the management of biodiversity? Journal of Biogeography 28, 549–564.
Future eating and country keeping: what role has environmental history in the management of biodiversity?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2002). Preface. Measuring and imagining: exploring centuries of Australian landscape change. Australian Journal of Botany 50, i–iii.
Preface. Measuring and imagining: exploring centuries of Australian landscape change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bowman, D. M. J. S. (2012). Review of ‘The biggest estate on earth: how Aborigines made Australia’. Australian Historical Studies 43, 321–322.

Brady, E. J. (1911). ‘River Rovers.’ (George Robertson and Company: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Brady, E. J. (1918). ‘Australia Unlimited.’ (George Robertson and Company: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Breckwoldt, R., Boden, R., and Andrew, J. (2004). ‘The Darling.’ (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Broughton, W. (2006). Hydrology and water resources in Australia: the past. In ‘Proceedings of the 30th Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium: Past, Present & Future’, 4–7 December 2006, Launceston, Tas., Australia. (Engineers Australia: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Brown, M., Byrne, P., and Forbes, S. (2002). ‘Whisperings of the Wannon.’ (Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority: Hamilton, Vic, Australia.)

Bunn, S. E. (2017). Environmental water reform. In ‘Decision Making in Water Resource Policy and Management: an Australian Perspective’. (Eds B. T. Hart and J. Doolan.) pp. 97–110. (Academic Press: London, UK.)

Burn, I. (1980). Beating about the bush: the landscape of the Heidelberg School. In ‘Australian Art and Architecture: Essays Presented to Bernard Smith’. (Eds A. Bradley and T. Smith.) pp. 83–98. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Callaghan, A. R. (1948). From tea-tree swamp to pasture. Walkabout 1948, 29–32.

Campbell, K. O. (1964). An assessment of the case of irrigation development in Australia. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 450–457. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Cannon, M. (1999). ‘The Exploration of Australia’, revised edn. (Reader’s Digest: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Carter, P. (1987). ‘The Road to Botany Bay: an Exploration of Landscape and History.’ (University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, USA.)

Cary, J., and Brown, N. (1992). ‘Greening a Brown Land: the Australian Search for Sustainability.’ (Macmillan: Melbourne, Vic, Australia.)

Cathcart, M. (2009). ‘The Water Dreamers: The Remarkable History of our Dry Continent.’ (Text: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Christie, R. W. (1993). ‘Ghosts and Gold in the Victorian High Country: the Story of Mining and Settlement in Victoria’s Historic Alpine Areas.’ (High Country Publishing: Dargo, Vic., Australia.)

Clark, D. C. (1904). ‘Australian Mining and Metallurgy.’ (Critchley Parker: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Clark, I. D. (2018). Water. In: ‘Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South-eastern Australia: Perspectives of Early Colonists’. (Eds F. Cahir, I. D. Clark and P. A. Clarke.) pp. 95–113. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Austarlia.)

Clarke, P. A. (2018). Water spirit beings. In: ‘Aboriginal Biocultural Knowledge in South-eastern Australia: Perspectives of Early Colonists’. (Eds F. Cahir, I. D. Clark and P. A. Clarke.) pp. 35–53. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Colloff, M. J. (2014). ‘Flooded Forest and Desert Creek: Ecology and History of the River Red Gum.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Commonwealth of Australia (2015). ‘Our North, Our Future: White Paper on Developing Northern Australia. Overview.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Connell, D. (2007). ‘Water Politics in the Murray–Darling Basin.’ (Federation Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Cook, M. H. (2018). ‘A river with a city problem, not a city with a river problem’: Brisbane and its flood-prone river. Environment and History 24, 469–496.
‘A river with a city problem, not a city with a river problem’: Brisbane and its flood-prone river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Coward, D. (1988). ‘Out of Sight: Sydney’s Environmental History 1851–1981.’ (Australian National University Press: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Cox, E. (1939). ‘Fool’s Harvest.’ (Robertson and Mullen: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Crase, L. (2010). The spin and economics of irrigation infrastructure policy in Australia. The Australian Quarterly 82, 14–20.

Crase, L. (2012). How holistic should economic measurement be? A cautionary note on valuing ecosystem services as part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Economic Papers 31, 182–191.
How holistic should economic measurement be? A cautionary note on valuing ecosystem services as part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crase, L. (2017). When scarcity ends, policy reform loses steam: comments on Australian water reform and political backsliding. Water Economics and Policy 3, 1771005.
When scarcity ends, policy reform loses steam: comments on Australian water reform and political backsliding.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crase, L., and O’Keefe, S. (2009). The paradox of national water savings: a critique of ‘Water for the future’. Agenda: a Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform 16, 45–60.

Crase, L., O’Keefe, S., and Dollery, B. (2011). Some observations about the reactionary rhetoric circumscribing the guide to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Economic Papers 30, 195–207.
Some observations about the reactionary rhetoric circumscribing the guide to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Crawford, P. (2000). ‘King: the Story of a River.’ (Montpelier Press: Hobart, Tas., Australia.)

Cridland, S. (2008). An analysis of the winter movement of grey nomads to northern Australia: planning for increase [sic] senior visitation. (James Cook University: Townsville.) Available at http://eprints. jcu.edu.au/7901 [Verified 15 August 2018].

Crowley, F. (1980). ‘A Documentary History of Australia. Vol. 1: Colonial Australia 1788–1840.’ (Nelson: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

CSIRO (2018). Northern Australia water resource assesment. Available at https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Major-initiatives/Northern-Australia/Current-work/NAWRA [Verified 31 August 2018].

Cullen, P., and Lake, P. S. (1995). Water resources and biodiversity: past, present and future problems and solutions. In ‘Conserving Biodiversity: Threats and Solutions’. (Eds R. A. Bradstock, T. D. Auld, D. A. Keith, R. T. Kingsford, D. Lunney, and D. P. Sivertsen.) pp. 115–125. (Surrrey Beatty: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Cumpston, J. H. L. (1964). ‘The Inland Sea and The Great River: the Story of Australian Exploration.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Daley, L. T. (1966). ‘Men and a River: a History of the Richmond River District 1828–1895.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

David, B. (2013). Review of ‘Altered ecologies: fire, climate and human influence’ and ‘The biggest estate on earth’. Australian Archaeological Association 76, 91–92.

Davidson, B. R. (1966). ‘The Northern Myth: a Study of the Physical and Economic Limits to Agricultural and Pastoral Development in Tropical Australia’, 2nd edn. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Davidson, B. R. (1969). ‘Australia Wet or Dry? The Physical and Economic Limits to the Expansion of Irrigation.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Davidson, B. (1976). History of the Australian rural landscape. In ‘Man and the Landscape in Australia: Towards an Ecological Vision’. (Eds G. Seddon and M. Davis.) pp. 63–81. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Davidson, B. R., and Graham-Taylor, S. (1982). ‘Lessons from the Ord.’ (Centre for Independent Studies: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Davies, P., Lawrence, S., Turnbull, J., Rutherfurd, I., Grove, J., Silvester, E., Baldwin, D., and Macklin, M. (2018). Reconstruction of historical riverine sediment production on the goldfields of Victoria, Australia. Anthropocene 21, 1–15.
Reconstruction of historical riverine sediment production on the goldfields of Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davis, J. A., and Froend, R. (1999). Loss and degradation of wetlands in southwestern Australia: underlying causes, consequences and solutions. Wetlands Ecology and Management 7, 13–23.
Loss and degradation of wetlands in southwestern Australia: underlying causes, consequences and solutions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Davis, J., Murray, S., and Burchell, F. N. (1902). ‘Interstate Royal Commission on the River Murray, Representing the States of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia: Report of the Commissioners with Minutes of Evidence, Appendices, and Plans.’ (Parliament of Victoria: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Delacorn, A. (2011). ‘Royal Commissions in Victoria: 1854–2009.’ (Department of Parliamentary Services: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Dent, J., and Ward, M. B. (2015). Food bowl or folly? The economics of irrigating northern Australia. Discussion paper 02/15. Department of Economics, Monash Business School. Available at https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/925615/food_bowl_or_folly_the_economics_of_irrigating_northern_australia.pdf [Verified 25 September 2018].

Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (2017). History of the South East Drainage System: summary. Available at http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/aghistory/natural_resources/water_resources_ag_dev/history_of_the_south_east_drainage_system_-_summary/history_of_the_south_east_drainage_system_-_summary [Verified 17 January 2019].

Dingle, S. (2018). Best laid plans: the Murray–Darling Basin in crisis. Parts 1 and 2. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/Murray–darling-basin-crisis/9687538; http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/the-Murray–darling-basin-in-crisis-(part-2)/9716386 [Verified 11 May 2018].

Dovers, S. (1994). Australian environmental history: introduction, review and principles. In ‘Australian Environmental History: Essays and Cases’. (Ed. S. Dovers.) pp. 2–19. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Dow, C. (2008). A ‘sportsman’s paradise’: the effects of hunting on avifauna of the Gippsland Lakes. Environment and History 14, 145–164.
A ‘sportsman’s paradise’: the effects of hunting on avifauna of the Gippsland Lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dury, G. H. (1968). An introduction to the geomorphology of Australia. In ‘Studies in Australian Geography’. (Eds G. H. Dury and M. I. Logan.) pp. 1–36. (Heinemann Educational: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

East, L. R. (1935). Swamp reclamation in Victoria. Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 7, 77–91.

Eggleston, F. W. (1932). ‘State Socialism in Victoria.’ (King and Sons: London, UK.)

Ehrenfeld, D. (2000). War and peace and conservation biology. Conservation Biology 14, 105–112.
War and peace and conservation biology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Erskine, W. D., Turner, L. M., Terrazzolo, N., and Warner, R. F. (1999). Recovery of the Snowy River: politics and river rehabilitation. Australian Geographical Studies 37, 330–336.
Recovery of the Snowy River: politics and river rehabilitation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Eyre, E. J. (1845). Journals of expeditions of discovery into central Australia, and overland from Adelaide to King George’s Sound, in the years 1840-1. Available at https://archive.org/details/journalsofexpedi02eyre [Verified 17 August 2018].

Farwell, G. (1967). ‘Australian Landscapes.’ (Nelson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Fensham, R. J. (2012). (Review of) the biggest estate on earth: how Aborigines made Australia. The Australian Geographer 43, 325–327.
(Review of) the biggest estate on earth: how Aborigines made Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Finch, J. (1846). The military defence of rivers. In ‘The Living Age. Vol. 1’. (Eds E. Littell and R. S. Littell.) pp. 325–332. (T.H. Carter & Co: Boston, MA, USA.)

Finlayson, B. L., and Brizga, S. O. (1995). The oral tradition, environmental change and river basin management: case studies from Queensland and Victoria. Australian Geographical Studies 33, 180–192.
The oral tradition, environmental change and river basin management: case studies from Queensland and Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fitzpatrick, K. (1958). ‘Australian Explorers: Selection of their Writings with an Introduction.’ (Oxford University Press: London, UK.)

Fletcher, C. B. (1926). ‘The Murray Valley: a Three Thousand Mile Run.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Fletcher, B. H. (1976). ‘Landed Enterprise and Penal Society. A History of Farming and Grazing in New South Wales Before 1821.’ (Sydney University Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Flett, J. (1970). ‘The History of Gold Discovery in Victoria.’ (Poppet Head Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Flett, J. (1999). ‘A History of Bunyips: Australia’s Great Mystery Water Beasts.’ (Free Spirit Press: Tyalgum, NSW, Australia.)

Floud, R. C. (1979). ‘An Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Historians’, 2nd edn. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Fogerty, J. E. (2005). Oral history: a guide to its creation and use. In ‘The Historical Ecology Handbook: a Restorationist’s Guide to Reference Ecosystems’. (Eds D. Egan and E. A. Howell.) pp. 101–120. (Island Press: Washington, DC, USA.)

Frawley, K. (1994). Evolving visions: environmental management as nature conservation in Australia. In ‘Australian Environmental History: Essays and Cases’. (Ed. S. Dovers.) pp. 55–78. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Frith, H. J., and Sawer, G. (Eds) (1974). ‘The Murray Waters: Man, Nature and a River System.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Gammage, B. (2011). ‘The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Gaynor, A., and McLean, I. (2008). Landscape histories: mapping environmental and ecological change through the landscape art of the Swan River region of western Australia. Environment and History 14, 187–204.
Landscape histories: mapping environmental and ecological change through the landscape art of the Swan River region of western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gergis, J. (2018). ‘Sunburnt Country: the History and Future of Climate Change in Australia.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Gergis, J., Garden, D., and Fenby, C. (2010). The influence of climate on the first European settlement of Australia: a comparison of weather journals, documentary data and palaeoclimate records 1788–1793. Environmental History 15, 485–507.
The influence of climate on the first European settlement of Australia: a comparison of weather journals, documentary data and palaeoclimate records 1788–1793.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ghassemi, F., and White, I. (2007). ‘Inter-basin Water Transfer: Case Studies from Australia, United States, Canada, China and India.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Gibson, R. (1984). ‘The Diminishing Paradise: Changing Literary Perceptions of Australia.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Gilbert, A. (1981). The state and nature in Australia. Australian Cultural History 1, 9–28.

Giles, E. (1889). Australia twice traversed: the romance of exploration, being a narrative compiled from the journals of five exploring expeditions into and through central South Australia and Western Australia from 1872 to 1876. Available at http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00052.html [Verified 17 August 2018].

Gillen, M. (1989). ‘The Founders of Australia: a Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet.’ (Library of Australian History: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Gleeson, J. (1976). ‘Australian Painters: Colonial 1788–1880; Impressionist 1881–1930; Modern 1931–1970’, 3rd impression. (Lansdowne Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Grafton, R. Q., and Horne, J. (2014). Water markets in the Murray–Darling Basin. In ‘Global Water: Issues and Insights’. (Eds R. Q. Grafton, P. Wyrwoll, C. White, and D. Allendes.) pp. 37–44. (Australian National University Press: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Grafton, R. Q., and Wheeler, S. A. (2018). Economics of water recovery in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Annual Review of Resource Economics 10, 487–510.
Economics of water recovery in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grafton, R. Q., MacDonald, D. H., Paton, D., Harris, G., Bjornlund, H., Connor, J. D., Quiggin, J., Williams, J., Kingsford, R., Wheeler, S. A., and Crase, L. (2018). The Murray–Darling Basin Plan is not delivering: there’s no more time to waste. In ‘The Conversation’, 5 February 2018. Available at https://theconversation.com/the-Murray–darling-basin-plan-is-not-delivering-theres-no-more-time-to-waste-91076 [Verified 15 May 2018].

Graham-Taylor, S. (2011). A missing history: towards a river history of the Swan. Studies in Western Australian History 27, 125–143.

Gregory, J. W. (1906). ‘The Dead Heart of Australia.’ (Murray: London, UK.)

Griffiths, T. (1996). ‘Hunters and Collectors: the Antiquarian Imagination in Australia.’ (Cambridge University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Griffiths, T. (2001). ‘Forests of Ash: an Environmental History.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Griffiths, T. (2002). How many trees make a forest? Cultural debates about vegetation change in Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 50, 375–389.
How many trees make a forest? Cultural debates about vegetation change in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Griffiths, T., and Sherratt, T. (2006). What if the northern rivers had been turned around? In ‘What If? Australian History as it Might Have Been’. (Eds S. Macintyre and S. Scalmer.) pp. 234–254. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Griggs, P. D. (2018). Too much water: drainage schemes and landscape change in the sugar-producing areas of Queensland, 1920–90. The Australian Geographer 49, 81–105.
Too much water: drainage schemes and landscape change in the sugar-producing areas of Queensland, 1920–90.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Grove, R. (2005). Revolutionary weather: the climatic and economic crisis of 1788–1795 and the discovery of El Nino. In ‘A Change in the Weather: Climate and Culture in Australia’. (Eds T. Sherratt, T. Griffiths, and L. Robin.) pp. 128–140. (National Museum of Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Grudnoff, M., and Campbell, R. (2017). ‘Dam the Expense: the Ord River Irrigation Scheme and the Development of Northern Australia.’ (Australia Institute: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Haigh, F. B. (Ed.) (1964). Irrigation potential and problems. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. pp. 21–35. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Hall, D. N. (1988). Effects of eductor dredging of gold tailings on aquatic environments in Victoria. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 100, 53–59.

Hancock, W. K. (1930). ‘Australia.’ (Ernest Benn Ltd: London, UK.)

Hancock, W. K. (1972). ‘Discovering Monaro: a Study of Man’s Impact on his Environment.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Hannam, P. (2018). $13b plan a ‘fraud’ on river health. In The Age, 19 June 2018.

Hannigan, L. (2017). Why not flood Lake Eyre? The idea is not new, been known for 150 years [sic]. Available at https://larryhannigan.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/14-lake-eyre.pdf [Verified 9 September 2018].

Hardin, G. (1985). Human ecology: the subversive, conservative science. American Zoologist 25, 469–476.
Human ecology: the subversive, conservative science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Haworth, R. J. (2003). The shaping of Sydney by its urban geology. Quaternary International 103, 41–55.
The shaping of Sydney by its urban geology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hay, P. R. (1988). The contemporary environment movement as neo-romanticism: a re-appraisal from Tasmania. Environmental Review 12, 39–59.

Haynes, R. D. (1998). ‘Seeking the Centre: the Australian Desert in Literature and Film.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Haynes, R. D. (2006). ‘Tasmanian Visions: Landscapes in Writing, Art and Photography.’ (Polymath Press: Hobart, Tas., Australia.)

Head, L. (1999). The Northern Myth revisited? Aborigines, environment and agriculture in the Ord River irrigation scheme, Stages one and two. The Australian Geographer 30, 141–158.
The Northern Myth revisited? Aborigines, environment and agriculture in the Ord River irrigation scheme, Stages one and two.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Healy, T., and Cropper, P. (1994). ‘Out of the Shadows: Mystery Animals of Australia.’ (Ironbark Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Heard, G. (2009). Will a full Lake Eyre bring rain to southern Aus? In Farm Weekly, 22 January 2009. Available at http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/will-a-full-lake-eyre-bring-rain-to-southern-aus/1414085.aspx?storypage=2 [Verified 7 September 2018].

Heathcote, R. L. (1965). ‘Back of Bourke: a Study of Land Appraisal and Settlement in Semi-arid Australia.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Heathcote, R. L. (1972a). The visions of Australia 1770–1970. In ‘Australia as Human Setting’. (Ed. A. Rapoport.) pp. 77–98. (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Heathcote, R. L. (1972b). The artist as geographer: landscape painting as a source for geographical research. Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. South Australian Branch 73, 1–21.

Heathcote, R. L. (1976). Early European perception of the Australian landscape: the first hundred years. In ‘Man and the Landscape in Australia: Towards an Ecological Vision’. (Eds G. Seddon and M. Davis.) pp. 29–46. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Heathcote, R. L. (1983). Pioneer landscape paintings in Australia and the United States. Great Plains Quarterly 1718, 131–145.

Heathcote, R. L. (1987). Images of a desert? Perceptions of arid Australia. Australian Geographical Studies 25, 3–25.
Images of a desert? Perceptions of arid Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hill, E. (1937). ‘Water into Gold.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Hill, E. (1940). ‘The Great Australian Loneliness.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Hills, E. S. (1964). ‘Water Resources: Use and Management.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Hirst, J. (2005). ‘Sense and Nonsense in Australian History.’ (Black Inc: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Hiscock, P. (2014). Creators or destroyers? The burning question of human impact in ancient Aboriginal Australia. Humanities Australia 5, 40–52.

Hoare, C. P. (1999). Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited. Australian Geographical Studies 37, 322–324.
Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hobbs, R. J. (2013). Grieving for the past and hoping for the future: balancing polarizing perspectives in conservation and restoration. Restoration Ecology 21, 145–148.
Grieving for the past and hoping for the future: balancing polarizing perspectives in conservation and restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Holden, R. (2001). ‘Bunyips: Australia’s Folklore of Fear.’ (National Library of Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Holmes, J. M. (1948). ‘The Murray Valley: a Geographical Reconnaissance of the Murray Valley and New Design for its Regional Organization.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

House, J. (2010). Monet: the river of dreams. Available at https://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/monet-the-river-of-dreams [Verified 7 August 2018].

Hudson, W. (1964). Multi-purpose water development projects: the integration of power and water benefits. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 36–43. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Humphries, P., and Winemiller, K. O. (2009). Historical impacts on river fauna, shifting baselines and challenges for restoration. Bioscience 59, 673–684.
Historical impacts on river fauna, shifting baselines and challenges for restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hurley, P. J. (1946). ‘From Kosciusko to the Sea: a Journey along the River Murray.’ (Dymocks Book Arcade: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Igler, D. (2013). On vital areas, categories, and new opportunities. The Journal of American History 100, 120–123.
On vital areas, categories, and new opportunities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnston, G. H. (1953). Their way of life. In ‘The Sunburnt Country: Profile of Australia’. (Ed. I. Bevan.) pp. 148–158. (Collins: London, UK.)

Joyce, B. (2018). $45.6 million approved for Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme. Available at http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/joyce/releases/2018/february/bj021_2018.aspx [Verified 9 September 2018].

Karskens, G. (2009). ‘The Colony: a History of Early Sydney.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Katter, B. (2012). ‘An Incredible Race of People: a Passionate History of Australia.’ (Pier 9 Publishing: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Kenderdine, S. (1993). ‘Historic Shipping on the Murray River: a Guide to the Terrestrial and Submerged Archaeological Resources in South Australia.’ (Department of Environment and Land Management: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Kenderdine, S. (2004). ‘Historic Shipping on the Murray River: a Guide to the Terrestrial and Submerged Archaeological Resources in New South Wales and Victoria.’ (Department of Planning: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Kerr, J. (2011). Henry James Johnstone. Available at https://www.daao.org.au/bio/henry-james-johnstone/biography/ [Verified 8 August 2018].

King, C. J. (1950). ‘The First Fifty Years of Agriculture in New South Wales.’ (Department of Agriculture: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Kingsford, R. T. (2000). Ecological impacts of dams, water diversions and river management on floodplain wetlands in Australia. Austral Ecology 25, 109–127.
Ecological impacts of dams, water diversions and river management on floodplain wetlands in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kingsford, R. T. (Ed.) (2017). ‘Lake Eyre Basin Rivers: Environmental, Social and Economic Importance.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Kingsford, R. T., and Thomas, R. F. (2004). Destruction of wetlands and waterbird populations by dams and irrigation on the Murrumbidgee River in arid Australia. Environmental Management 34, 383–396.
Destruction of wetlands and waterbird populations by dams and irrigation on the Murrumbidgee River in arid Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15520895PubMed |

Kingsford, R. T., Mac Nally, R., King, A., Walker, K. F., Bino, G., Thompson, R., Wassens, S., and Humpgries, P. (2015). A commentary on ‘Long-term ecological trends of flow-dependent ecosystems in a major regulated river basin’, by Matthew J. Colloff, Peter Caley, N. Saintilan, Carmel A. Pollino and Neville D. Crossman. Marine and Freshwater Research 66, 970–980.
A commentary on ‘Long-term ecological trends of flow-dependent ecosystems in a major regulated river basin’, by Matthew J. Colloff, Peter Caley, N. Saintilan, Carmel A. Pollino and Neville D. Crossman.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kirby, M. (2011). Irrigation. In ‘Water: Science and Solutions for Australia.’ (Ed. I. P. Prosser.) pp. 105–118. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Kneebone, J., and Wilson, B. (2017). Design and early implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Water Economics and Policy 3, 1650041.
Design and early implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koehn, J. D., and Lintermans, M. (2012). A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia. Endangered Species Research 16, 165–181.
A strategy to rehabilitate fishes of the Murray–Darling Basin, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kornhauser, E. M. (1999). All nature here is new to art’: painting the American landscape, 1800–1900. In ‘New Worlds from Old: 19th Century Australian and American Landscapes’. (Eds E. Johns, A. Sayers, E. M. Kornhauser, and A. Ellis.) pp. 71–91. (National Gallery of Australia: Canberra, Australia; and Wadsworth Athenium: Hartford, CT, USA.)

Kotwicki, V., and Isdale, P. (1991). Hydrology of Lake Eyre, Australia: El Niño link. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 84, 87–98.
Hydrology of Lake Eyre, Australia: El Niño link.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Koziol, M. (2018). Scott Morrison locks in Bob Katter’s support with $234 million water investment. In ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, 8 November 2018. Available at https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-locks-in-bob-katter-s-support-with-234-million-water-investment-20181108-p50evs.html [Verified 12 December 2018].

Lacey, G. (2004). ‘Still Glides the Stream: the Natural History of the Yarra from Heidelberg to Yarra Bend.’ (Australian Scholarly Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Lake, P. S. (1995). Of floods and droughts: river and stream ecosystems of Australia. In ‘Ecosystems of the World. 22. River and Stream Ecosystems’. (Eds C. E. Cushing, K. W. Cummings, and G. W. Minshall.) pp. 659–694. (Elsevier: Amsterdam, Netherlands.)

Langford-Smith, T. (1968). Murrumbidgee land settlement 1817 to 1912. In ‘Studies in Australian Geography’. (Eds G. H. Dury and M. I. Logan.) pp. 99–136. (Heinemann Educational: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Larsen, J., Nanson, G., Cohen, T., Jones, B., Jansen, J., and May, J.-H. (2009). Climate change in the dead heart of Australia. In ‘Vignettes: Key Concepts in Geomorphology’. Available at http://ro.uow.edu.au/scipapers/1091/ [Verified 22 August 2018].

Lawrence, C. R. (2012). Hydrological insights of inland Australia. In ‘Burke and Wills: the Scientific Legacy of the Victorian Exploring Expedition’. (Eds E. B. Joyce and D. A. McCann.) pp. 207–234. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Lawrence, S., and Davies, P. (2014). The sludge question: the regulation of mine tailings in nineteenth-century Victoria. Environment and History 20, 385–410.
The sludge question: the regulation of mine tailings in nineteenth-century Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lawrence, G. V., and Smith, G. K. (1975). ‘The Book of the Murray.’ (Rigby: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Lee, D. (2016). ‘The Second Rush: Mining and the Transformation of Australia.’ (Connor Court Publishing: Redland Bay, Qld, Australia.)

Lee, L., and Ancev, T. (2009). Two decades of Murray–Darling water management: a river of funding, a trickle of achievement. Agenda: a Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform 16, 5–24.

Leeper, G. W. (1960). Climates. In ‘The Australian Environment’. pp. 19–28. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Lemly, A. D., Kingsford, R. T., and Thompson, J. R. (2000). Irrigated agriculture and wildlife conservation: conflict on a global scale. Environmental Management 25, 485–512.
Irrigated agriculture and wildlife conservation: conflict on a global scale.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10742477PubMed |

Lendon, N. (1980). Ashton, Roberts and Bayliss: some relationships between illustration, painting and photography in the late nineteenth century. In ‘Australian Art and Architecture: Essays Presented to Bernard Smith’. (Eds A. Bradley and T. Smith.) pp. 71–82. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Leopold, A. (1970). ‘A Sand Country Almanac with Essays on Conservation from Round River.’ (Ballantine Books: New York, NY, USA.)

Lindsay, N. (1918). ‘The Magic Pudding: Being the Adventures of Bunyip Bluegum and his Friends Bill Barnacle and Sam Sawnoff.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Lines, W. J. (1991). ‘Taming the Great South Land: a History of the Conquest of Nature in Australia.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Linsley, R. K. (1964). Some socio-economic aspects of water development. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 429–437. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Lloyd, C. J. (1988). ‘Either Drought or Plenty: Water Development and Management in New South Wales.’ (Department of Water Resources: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Lloyd, M. V., Barnett, G., Doherty, M. D., Jeffree, R. A., John, J., Majer, J. D., Osborne, J. M., and Nichols, O. G. (2002). Managing the impacts of the Australian minerals industry on biodiversity. (Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research.) Available at http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/G00569.pdf [Verified 12 December 2018].

Long, W. (2015). Irrigation water prices in the southern Murray–Darling start to force farmers to change crops. In ‘ABC Rural’, 18 August 2015? Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2015-08-18/high-irrigation-water-price/6705928 [Verified 21 December 2018].

Lynne, E. (1977). ‘The Australian Landscape and its Artists.’ (Bay Books: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Macinnis, P. (2007). ‘Australia’s Pioneers, Heroes and Fools: the Trials, Tribulations and Tricks of the Trade of Australia’s Colonial Explorers.’ (Pier 9 Publishing: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Madigan, C. T. (1974). ‘Crossing the Dead Heart.’ (Rigby: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Marshall, J., and Drysdale, R. (1962). ‘Journey Among Men.’ (Hodder and Staughton: London, UK.)

Martin, G. (1989). The founding of New South Wales. In ‘The Origins of Australia’s Capital Cities’. (Ed. P. Stratham.) pp. 37–51. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

McCaughey, P. (2014). ‘Why Australian Painting Matters.’ (The Miegunyah Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

McCormick, B. (2007). National plan for water security. Available at https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview_2007-_2008/National_Plan_for_Water_Security [Verified 24 January 2019].

McCulloch, A. (1984). ‘Encyclopedia of Australian Art.’ (Hutchison: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

McCutchan, A. I. (1964). The development of water resources for irrigation. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 359–382. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

McGeachan, C. (2014). Historical geography I: what remains? Progress in Human Geography 38, 824–837.
Historical geography I: what remains?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McGrath, S. (1982). ‘The Artist and the River: Arthur Boyd and the Shoalhaven.’ (Bay Books: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

McGrath, A. (1991). Travels to a distant past: the mythology of the outback. Australian Cultural History 10, 113–124.

McKenna, M. (2016). ‘From the Edge: Australia’s Lost Histories.’ (Miegunyah Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

McLaren, G. (1996). ‘Beyond Leichhardt: Bushcraft and the Exploration of Australia.’ (Fremantle Arts Press: Fremantle, WA, Australia.)

McLoughlin, L. C. (1999). Vegetation in the early landscape art of the Sydney region, Australia: accurate record or artistic licence? Landscape Research 24, 25–47.
Vegetation in the early landscape art of the Sydney region, Australia: accurate record or artistic licence?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McMahon, T. A., Finlayson, B. L., Haines, A. T. and Srikanthan, R. (1992). ‘Global Runoff: Continental Comparisons of Annual Flows and Peak Discharges.’ (Catena: Cremingen-Destedt, Germany.)

Meinig, D. W. (1979). The beholding eye: ten versions of the same scene. In ‘The Interpretation of Ordinary Landscapes: Geographical Essays’. (Ed. D. W. Meinig.) pp. 33–48. (Oxford University Press: New York, NY, USA.)

Mitchell, T. L. (1838). Three expeditions into the interior of eastern Australia: with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the present colony of New South Wales. (University of Sydney Library.) Available at http://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/data-2/mitthre.pdf [Verified 15 July 2018].

Mitchell, G. (1937). ‘The Awakening.’ (Angus and Robertson: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Mountford, B., and Tuffnell, S. (Eds) (2018). ‘A Global History of Gold Rushes.’ (University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA.)

Mudd, G. (2013). Australia’s mining legacies. Agenda: a Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform 124, 19–24.

Mudie, I. (1966). ‘Rivers of Australia.’ (Rigby: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Muir, C. (2014). ‘The Broken Promise of Agricultural Progress.’ (Routledge: London, UK.)

Munro, C. H. (1970). Economics of irrigation projects in Australia. Journal of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science 36, 49–51.

Murray–Darling Basin Commission (2003). ‘Inland Shipping: the Navigation of the Murray–Darling River System.’ (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Musgrave, W. (2008). Historical development of water resource in Australia: irrigation policy in the Murray–Darling Basin. In ‘Water Policy in Australia: the Impact of Change and Uncertainty’. (Ed. L. Crase.) pp. 28–43. (Resources for the Future: Washington, DC, USA.)

Nash, L. (2013). Furthering the environmental turn. The Journal of American History 100, 131–135.
Furthering the environmental turn.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nimmo, W. H. R. (1949). The world’s water supply and Australia’s portion of it. Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 21, 29–34.

O’Gorman, E. (2012). (Ed.). ‘Flood Country: an Environmental History of the Murray–Darling Basin.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Parks Victoria (1998). ‘Bunyip State Park: Management Plan.’ (Parks Victoria: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Parliament of Victoria (1994). ‘Report Upon Eductor Dredging in Victoria.’ (Government Printer: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Peirson, W. L., and Laut, M. (2016). The future of dams in eastern Australia. In ‘Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics’, 7–12 February 2016, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. (Eds J. A. Webb, J. F. Costello, R. CasaMulet, J. P. Lyon, and M. J. Stewardson.) pp. 388–395. (Engineers Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Perry, T. M. (1963). ‘Australia’s First Frontier: the Spread of Settlement in New South Wales, 1788–1829.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Perry, T. M. (1966). Climate and settlement in Australia 1770–1930: some theoretical considerations. In ‘Frontiers and Men: a Volume in Memory of Griffith Taylor (1880–1963)’. (Ed. J. Andrews.) pp. 138–154. (Cheshire: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Peters, R. H. (1991). ‘A Critique for Ecology.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Petheram, C., Gallant, J., Stone, P., Wilson, P., and Read, P. (2018). Rapid assessment of potential for development of large dams and irrigation across continental areas: application to northern Australia. The Rangeland Journal 40, 431–449.
Rapid assessment of potential for development of large dams and irrigation across continental areas: application to northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Phoenix, D. (2015). ‘Following Burke and Wills Across Australia: a Touring Guide.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Pigram, J. J. (2006). ‘Australia’s Water Resources: from Use to Management.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Pirani, L. (1945). ‘Old Man River of Australia: a Saga of the River Murray.’ (John Sands: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Pittock, J., and Finlayson, C. M. (2011). Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 232–243.
Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin: freshwater ecosystem conservation options in an era of climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Powell, J. M. (1988). ‘An Historical Geography of Modern Australia: the Restive Fringe.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Powell, J. M. (1989). ‘Watering the Garden State: Water, Land and Community in Victoria 1834–1988.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Powell, J. M. (1991). ‘Plains of Promise, Rivers of Destiny: Water Management and the Development of Queensland.’ (Boolarong Publications: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)

Powell, J. M. (1993). ‘The Emergence of Bioregionalism in the Murray–Darling Basin.’ (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Powell, J. M. (1997). Enterprise and dependency: water management in Australia. In ‘Ecology and Empire: Environmental History of Settler Societies’. (Eds T. Griffiths and L. Robin.) pp. 103–121. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Powell, J. M. (2000). Snakes and cannons: water management and the geographical imagination in Australia. In ‘Environmental History and Policy: Still Settling Australia’. (Ed. S. Dovers.) pp. 47–71. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Presland, G. (2008). ‘The Place for a Village: how Nature has Shaped the City of Melbourne.’ (Museum of Victoria: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Presland, G. (2014). A boggy question: differing views of wetlands in 19th century Melbourne. Victorian Naturalist 131, 96–105.

Purtell, J. (1995). ‘The Mosquito Fleet: Hawkesbury River Trade and Traders 1794–1994.’ (Deerubbin Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Purtell, J. (2011). ‘Hawkesbury River Boats and People’, 2nd edn. (Deerubbin Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Raggatt, H. (1964). The national outlook. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 3–11. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Raggatt, H. (1966). The development of northern Australia. Economic Papers E1, 1–25.
The development of northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ranken, W. H. L. (1874). ‘The Dominion of Australia: an Account of its Foundations.’ (Chapman and Hall: London, UK.)

Raymond, R. (1999). ‘A Vision for Australia: The Snowy Mountains Scheme 1949–1999.’ (Focus Publishing: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Reid, M., Fluin, J., Ogden, R., Tibby, J., and Kershaw, P. (2002). Long-term perspectives on human impacts on floodplain-river ecosystems, Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Verhandlungen des Internationalen Verein Limnologie 28, 710–716.
Long-term perspectives on human impacts on floodplain-river ecosystems, Murray–Darling Basin, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reserve Bank of Australia (2018). History of banknotes. Available at https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/australias-banknotes/history/ [Verified 1 August 2018].

Roberts, S. H. (1968). ‘History of Australian Land Settlement 1788–1920.’ (First published 1924). (Macmillan: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Roberts, D. (1985). ‘From Swampland to Farmland: a History of the Koo-Wee-Rup Flood Protection District.’ (Rural Water Commission of Victoria: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Roberts, J., and Sainty, G. (1996). ‘Listening to the Lachlan.’ (Sainty and Associates: Sydney, NSW, Australia, and Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Roberts, J., and Sainty, G. (1997). Oral history as a tool in historical ecology: Lachlan River as a case study. Report 97-20. CSIRO, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Roberts, J., and Sainty, G. (2000). Oral history, ecological knowledge, and river management. In ‘Environmental History and Policy: Still Settling Australia’. (Ed. S. Dovers.) pp. 118–144. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Robertson, M., Nichols, P., Horwitz, P., Bradby, K., and MacKintosh, D. (2000). Environmental narratives and the need for multiple perspectives to restore degraded landscapes in Australia. Ecosystem Health 6, 119–133.
Environmental narratives and the need for multiple perspectives to restore degraded landscapes in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robin, L. (2012). Australia in global environmental history. In ‘A Companion to Global Environmental History.’ (Eds J. R. McNeill and E. S. Mauldin.) pp. 182–195. (Blackwell: Oxford, UK.)

Robin, L., and Smith, M. (2008). Australian environmental history: ten years on. Environment and History 14, 135–143.
Australian environmental history: ten years on.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robin, L., Dickman, C., and Martin, M. (2010). ‘Desert Channels: the Impulse to Conserve.’ (CSIRO: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Rosen, S. (1995). ‘Losing Ground: an Environmental History of the Hawkesbury–Nepean Catchment.’ (Hale and Iremonger: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Rosen, S. (2017). ‘Scorched Earth: Australia’s Secret Plan for Total War Under Japanese Invasion in World War II.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Russell, A. (1953). ‘Murray Walkabout: on the Murray River and its Valley.’ (University of Melbourne Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Rutherford, J. (1963). Group irrigation schemes and integrated uses of land in the southern Murray–Darling Basin. Australian Geographical Studies 1, 65–83.
Group irrigation schemes and integrated uses of land in the southern Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rutherford, J. (1968). Government irrigation and its physical environment. In ‘Studies in Australian Geography’. (Eds G. H. Dury and M. I. Logan.) pp. 137–194. (Heinemann Educational: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Rutherfurd, I. (2000). Some human impacts on Australian stream channel morphology. In ‘River Management: the Australasian Experience’. (Eds S. Brizga and B. Finlayson.) pp. 11–49. (John Wiley: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)

Ryan, S. (1996). ‘The Cartographic Eye: How Explorers saw Australia.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Sale, P. (2011). ‘Our Dying Planet: an Ecologist’s View of the Crisis we Face.’ (University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA.)

Sayers, A. (1998). The shaping of Australian landscape painting. In ‘New Worlds from Old: 19th Century Australian and American Landscapes’. (Eds E. Johns, A. Sayers, E. M. Kornhauser, and A. Ellis.) pp. 53–69. (National Gallery of Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia, and Wadsworth Atheneum: Hartford, CT, USA.)

Scott, E. (1929). ‘Australian Discovery. Vol. 2. By Land.’ (J. M. Dent and Sons: London, UK.)

Scott, A. (1999). Ecological history of the Tuggerah Lakes. Technical report 18/00, CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Sears, P. B. (1964). Ecology: a subversive subject. Bioscience 14, 11–13.
Ecology: a subversive subject.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seddon, G. (1970). ‘Swan River Landscapes.’ (University of Western Australia Press: Perth, WA, Australia.)

Seddon, G. (1972a). The evolution of perceptual attitudes. In ‘Man and the Landscape in Australia: Towards an Ecological Vision’. (Eds G. Seddon and M. Davis.) pp. 9–17. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Seddon, G. (1972b). ‘Sense of Place: a Response to an Environment, the Swan Coastal Plain Western Australia.’ (University of Western Australia Press: Perth, WA, Australia.)

Seddon, G. (1972c). Introduction. In ‘Man and the Landscape in Australia: Towards an Ecological Vision’. (Eds G. Seddon and M. Davis.) pp. 3–6. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Seddon, G. (1994). ‘Searching for the Snowy: an Environmental History.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Seddon, G. (1997). ‘Landprints: Reflections on Place and Landscape.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Seddon, G. S. (1999). Saving the throwaway river. Australian Geographical Studies 37, 314–321.
Saving the throwaway river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seddon, G. (2005). ‘The Old Country: Australia’s Landscapes, Plants and People.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Serle, G. (1973). ‘From Deserts the Prophets Come: the Creative Spirit in Australia 1788–1972.’ (Heinemann: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Shepard, P., and McKinley, D. (1969). (Eds) ‘The Subversive Science: Essays Toward An Ecology Of Man.’ (Houghton Mifflin: Boston, MA, USA.)

Sinclair, P. (2001). ‘The Murray: a River and its People.’ (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Sinclair, H. (2019). Joyce ‘doesn’t care’ about inquiry into $80 million water deal, as auditor-general to investigate. In ‘SBS News’, 23 April 2019. Available at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/joyce-doesn-t-care-about-inquiry-into-80-million-water-deal-as-auditor-general-to-investigate [Verified 24 April 2019].

Smith, B. (1979). ‘Place, Taste and Tradition: a Study of Australian Art Since 1788,’ 2nd edn. (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Smith, M. (1996). ‘Bunyips and Bigfoots: in Search of Australia’s Mystery Animals.’ (Millennium Books: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Smith, D. I. (1998). ‘Water in Australia: Resources and Management.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Smout, T. C. (2009). ‘Exploring Environmental History: Selected Essays.’ (University of Edinburgh Press: Edinburgh, UK.)

Spiers, H. (1981). ‘Landscape Art and the Blue Mountains.’ (Alternative Publishing Co-operative: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Stanley, P. (2008). ‘Invading Australia: Japan and the Battle for Australia, 1942.’ (Viking: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Stephensen, P. R. (1966). ‘The History and Description of Sydney Harbour.’ (Rigby: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Stratham, P. (1989). Patterns and perspectives. In ‘The Origins of Australia’s Capital Cities.’ (Ed. P. Stratham.) pp. 1–34. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)

Stubbs, R. (1983). ‘Ghosts and Myths of the Hawkesbury’. (Ladan: Windsor, NSW, Australia.)

Sturt, C. (1833). Two expeditions into the interior of southern Australia, during the years 1828, 1829, 1830, and 1831: with observations on the soil, climate, and general resources of the colony of New South Wales. (Smith, Elder and Co.: London, UK.) Available at http://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/data-2/p00096.pdf [Verified 15 July 2018].

Sturt, C. (1849). Narrative of an expedition into central Australia, performed under the authority of Her Majesty’s Government, during the years 1844, 5, and 6: together with a notice of the province of South Australia in 1847. (T. and W. Boone: London, UK.) Available at http://adc.library.usyd.edu.au/data-2/p00102.pdf [Verified 15 July 2018].

Sutter, P. S. (2013a). The world with us: the state of American environmental history. The Journal of American History 100, 94–119.
The world with us: the state of American environmental history.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sutter, P. S. (2013b). Nature is history. The Journal of American History 100, 145–148.
Nature is history.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Synan, P. (1989). ‘Highways of Water: How Shipping on the Gippsland Lakes Shaped Gippsland.’ (Landmark Press: Drouin, Vic., Australia.)

Taffs, K. H. (2001). The surface water drainage in environmental change: a case study of the upper south east of South Australia; an historical review. Australian Geographical Studies 39, 279–301.
The surface water drainage in environmental change: a case study of the upper south east of South Australia; an historical review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taylor, G. (1919). The physiographic control of Australian exploration. The Geographical Journal 53, 172–189.
The physiographic control of Australian exploration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Taylor, G. (1928). ‘Australia in its Physiographic and Economic Aspects’, 5th edn. (Clarendon Press: Oxford, UK.)

Taylor, G. (1959). ‘Australia: a Study of Warm Environments and Their Effect on British Settlement’, 7th enlarged edn. (Methuen and Co: London, UK.)

Teisch, J. B. (2011). ‘Engineering Nature: Water, Development, and the Global Spread of American Environmental Expertise.’ (University of North Carolina Press: Chapel Hill, NC, USA.)

Thirwell, M. (2017). Economic analysis: Australia’s export performance in FY2017. Available at https://www.austrade.gov.au/News/Economic-analysis/australias-export-performance-in-fy2017 [Verified 20 January 2019].

Thoms, M. C., Ogden, R. W., and Reid, M. A. (1999). Establishing the condition of lowland floodplain rivers: a palaeoecological approach. Freshwater Biology 41, 407–423.
Establishing the condition of lowland floodplain rivers: a palaeoecological approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tibby, J., Lane, M. B., and Gell, P. A. (2007). Local knowledge and environmental management: a cautionary tale from Lake Ainsworth, New South Wales. Environmental Conservation 34, 334–341.
Local knowledge and environmental management: a cautionary tale from Lake Ainsworth, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tisdall, A. L. (1964). Irrigation in Victoria. In ‘Water Resources: Use and Management’. (Ed. E. S. Hills.) pp. 458–464. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Tyrrell, I. (2018). ‘River Dreams: the People and Landscape of the Cooks River.’ (University of New South Wales Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Vertessy, R., Barma, D., Baumgartner, L., Mitrovic, S., Sheldon, F., and Bond, N. (2019). Final report of the independent assessment of the 2018–19 fish deaths in the Lower Darling. Australian Government, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Victorian Ombudsman (2011). Investigation into the Foodbowl Modernisation Project and related matters. Available at https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/Publications/Parliamentary-Reports/Investigation-into-the-Foodbowl-Modernisation-Project [Verified 10 September 2018].

Wahlquist, Å. (2008). ‘Thirsty Country: Options for Australia.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Walker, D. (1999). ‘Anxious Nation: Australia and the Rise of Asia 1850–1939.’ (University of Western Australia Press: Perth, WA, Australia.)

Walker, B. (2019). Murray–Darling Basin Royal Commission report. Government of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Walker, K. F., and Thoms, M. C. (1993). Environmental effects of flow regulation on the Lower River Murray, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 8, 103–119.
Environmental effects of flow regulation on the Lower River Murray, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Walker, J., Bullen, F., and Williams, B. G. (1993). Ecohydrological changes in the Murray–Darling Basin. I. The number of trees cleared over two centuries. Journal of Applied Ecology 30, 265–273.
Ecohydrological changes in the Murray–Darling Basin. I. The number of trees cleared over two centuries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ward, R. (1958). ‘The Australian Legend.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Watson, F. (1914). ‘Historical Records of Australia’. Series 1. Governors’ Despatches to and from England. Vol. 1. 1788–1796.’ (Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Watson, A. (2001). Money and the environment. Agenda: a Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform 8, 89–96.

Watson, A. (2005). Competition and water: a curmudgeon’s view. Available at https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Water%20session%20-%20Alistair%20Watson%20paper.pdf [Verified 9 September 2018].

Weatherley, A. H. (1967). The inland waters of Australia: introductory [sic]. In ‘Australian Inland Waters and Their Fauna: Eleven Studies’. (Ed. A. H. Weatherley.) pp. 3–17. (Australian National University Press: Canberra, ACT, Australia.)

Webster, A. (2017). A colonial history of the River Murray dispute. Adelaide Law Review 38, 13–47.

Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists (2017). Review of water reform in the Murray–Darling Basin. Available at http://wentworthgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Wentworth-Group-Review-of-water-reform-in-MDB-Nov-2017.pdf [Verified 9 September 2018].

White, R. (1981). ‘Inventing Australia: Images and Identity 1688–1980.’ (Allen and Unwin: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

White, M. E. (2000). ‘Running Down: Water in a Changing Land.’ (Kangaroo Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.).

Wigmore, L. (1968). ‘Struggle for the Snowy.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne, Vic., Australia.)

Wignell, E., and Graham, B. (1981). ‘A Boggle of Bunyips.’ (Hodder and Stoughton: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Wilkes, G. A. (1978). ‘A Dictionary of Australian Colloquialisms.’ (University of Sydney Press: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Williams, M. (1964). The historical geography of an artificial drainage system: the lower south-east of South Australia. Australian Geographical Studies 2, 87–102.
The historical geography of an artificial drainage system: the lower south-east of South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams, M. (1974). ‘The Making of the South Australian Landscape: a Study in the Historical Geography of Australia.’ (Academic Press: London, UK.)

Williams, W. D. (1988). Limnological imbalances: an antipodean viewpoint. Freshwater Biology 20, 407–420.
Limnological imbalances: an antipodean viewpoint.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Williams, W. D. (1998). ‘Guidelines of Lake Management. Vol. 6. Management of Inland Saline Waters.’ (International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and United Nations Environment Program: Shiga, Japan.)

Williams, J. (2017). Water reform in the Murray–Darling Basin: a challenge in complexity in balancing social, economic and environmental perspectives. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 150, 68–92.

Woodside, D., and O’Neill, D. (1995). Mining in relation to habitat loss. In ‘Conserving Biodiversity: Threats and Solutions’. (Eds R. A. Bradstock, T. D. Auld, D. A. Keith, R. T. Kingsford, D. Lunney, and D. P. Sivertsen.) pp. 76–93. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney, NSW, Australia.)

Worster, D. (1986). ‘Rivers of Empire: Water, Aridity, and the Growth of the American West.’ (Oxford University Press: New York, NY, USA.)

Worster, D. (1988). Doing environmental history. In ‘The Ends of the Earth: Perspectives on Modern Environmental History’. (Ed. D. Worster.) pp. 289–307. (Cambridge University Press: New York, NY, USA.)

Wright, T. (2014). Tony Abbott’s Bunyip Aristocracy: arise, Lord Clive and Lady Gina. The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 March 2014. Available at https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tony-abbotts-bunyip-aristocracy-arise-lord-clive-and-lady-gina-20140325-35g7i.html [Verified 14 January 2019].

Yong, E. (2017). How coral researchers are coping with the death of reefs. The Atlantic, 21 November 2017. Available at https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/coral-scientists-coping-reefs-mental-health/546440/ [Verified 11 January 2019].

Young, W. J., Bond, N., Brookes, J., Gawne, B., and Jones, G. J. (2011). Science review of the estimation of an environmentally sustainable level of take for the Murray–Darling Basin. (CSIRO: Adelaide, SA, Australia.) Available at https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/archived/proposed/CSIRO_ESLT_Science_Review.pdf [Verified 24 September 2018].

Younger, R. M. (1976). ‘Australia’s Greatest River: the Murray Valley: Past and Present.’ (Horizon Publishing: Swan Hill, Vic., Australia.)