River to Bay: Victoria's Maritime History by Carole Wilkinson and Prue Pittock

As a person unfamiliar with Victoria’s early settlement, River to Bay: Victoria’s Maritime History, was an interesting read. This short history aimed primarily at Year 3, 4 and 5 students, gives a short but revealing insight into the history of Victoria’s early settlement. The information is respectful of the First Nations Peoples of the area and honest in its explanation of how they were treated and seemingly ‘tricked’ into giving away their land along the Birrarung.

Beginning with a contents page with a map of the area settled, the opening chapter shares information about the First Peoples of the area, where they lived and how they used the land. It also mentions that their Country was about to be invaded by ships carrying white people. Following on, the next chapter begins in 1802 and explains the men and ships that began arriving in the area including Matthew Flinders whose treatment of the Kulin men did not involve shooting them - rather he asked them to share a meal. After this the reader is taken through a timeline of settlement, which seems quite complicated in that there were a number of white people making claim to the land in the 1800’s. The book concludes in the present day where the Kulin Peoples were able to take back some land close to the Birrarung. On the final page is a glossary and index.

As this book is a maritime history it provides key information about the ships of the time, the changes in the industry, major milestones over the years such as ships carrying typhoid, the arrival of the Confederate vessel: the Shenandoah, the building of various docks and the infamous West Gate Bridge. A worthwhile resource for early Australian History especially for schools in Victoria.

Themes: Exploration & Settlement of Victoria, First Nations People, First Contacts, Australian History, Maritime History.

Kathryn Beilby