Australian Alps

Paperback - April 2025 - AU $54.99

An illustrated guide to the remarkable ecology and history of the Australian Alps National Parks.

Australian Alps is a fascinating guide to Australia’s highest mountains and the extraordinary diversity, rich heritage and precious resource of the Australian Alps National Parks. + Full description

Covering Kosciuszko, Alpine and Namadgi National Parks, author Deirdre Slattery explores the stories of the First Peoples, scientists, historians and conservationists who have worked to protect, raise awareness of and share their knowledge of this unique and important area.

This fully revised third edition details the mountains’ remarkable and unique natural features; how the rocks, soils, plants and animals have evolved over time; and the dependence of many Australians on their most valuable function – water catchment. Extensively illustrated with both historic and contemporary photographs, Australian Alps is an essential guide for anyone visiting or interested in this spectacular region.

- Short description

News

This third edition is publishing April 2025. Need your copy sooner? The Second Edition (2015) is still available to purchase as an eBook.

Details

Paperback | April 2025 | $ 54.99
ISBN: 9781486318841 | 328 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
B&W photographs, Colour photographs, Illustrations



Features

  • Written by a leading expert in the natural and cultural values of the Australian Alps
  • Illustrated in full colour featuring animals, plants and natural features
  • Covers the latest policies on the management of these Alpine National Parks
  • Discusses the active presence of Traditional Owners and their cultural connections to the mountains
  • Updates information on huts, recreation and issues relating to feral animals

Contents

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
Cultural sensitivity warning

1: Australia’s Alps – the Brindabellas, the Snowy Mountains and Victoria’s High Country
2: Alpine weather and climate
3: The shape of the Alps – geology, landform and soil
4: Alpine vegetation – what grows where?
5: Alpine animals
6: Aboriginal life in the Alps
7: Settlement and land use in the Alps – pastoralism
8: European science in the Australian Alps
9: Gold mining in the Alps
10: Source of the rivers – alpine water resources
11: Scientists, citizens and public servants – the road to conservation
12: Visiting the parks

Index

Authors

Deirdre Slattery has been writing, teaching, talking and running field trips in and about the Australian Alps National Parks since 1989. She has been a member of several high-level advisory committees on alpine matters, and is the co-author of Kosciuszko: A Great National Park.