Histories

Gary Presland is the author, co-author or editor of 21 books and more than 80 published articles on subjects related to his research interests.  His most recent book is a jubilee history of the Box Hill Historical Society, which was published in 2022. His currently available works are listed below.

ABORIGINAL HISTORIES

First People

First Residents of Melbourne’s Western Region (Revised Edition)

Riding with Robinson: the field journals of George Augustus Robinson 8 January 1840 ─ 11 March 1840

NATURAL HISTORIES

The Place for a Village

The natural history of Footscray

The Whitehorse landscapes: as seen by the first settlers

Understanding our natural world: the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1880-2015

POLICE HISTORIES

For God’s Sake Send the Trackers

LOCAL HISTORIES

Preserving our past: the Box Hill Historical Society 1963–2013

Recently published articles by Gary Presland

‘Dandenong Police Paddocks Reserve: the most historically significant post-contact Indigenous site in Victoria. History News 354: 7. 2021

‘On the Peppertree Schinus L. in Australia’ The Victorian Naturalist 137: 173–178. 2020

‘FGA Barnard — Naturalist, historian and committed Kewite.’ Victorian Historical Journal 90: 121–133, 2019

‘Dredging Up History: The Remaking of Melbourne’s Swampy Landscapes.’ Proceedings of of Urban History Planning History Conference: Remaking Cities, 410–419, 2018     [https://cloudstor.aarnet.edu.au/plus/s/ykBU3HN9tuv4X8q#pdfviewer]

‘The Kulin people and the failure of the Aboriginal Protectorate during the superintendency of C J La Trobe.’ LaTrobeana 16: 5–13, 2017

‘Aboriginal mortuary practices in Victoria’ in G. Hutchinson In memorium: a guide to the history and heritage of Victoria’s Cemeteries. Melbourne. Hardie Grant Books/ Dept of Health, 2014

‘A boggy question: differing views of wetlands in 19th century Melbourne’ The Victorian Naturalist 131:  96–105, 2014

‘Core values in Aboriginal religions’ The Beacon July 2013: 6–9, 2013

‘I sailed under four flags’ The Log 45(3): 148–151, 2012.

‘The natural environments of La Trobe’s Melbourne’ La Trobeana 10(3): 35–42, 2011.

‘Landscapes of 19th century Melbourne’ Ancestor 30(6): 12–15, 2011.

‘The development of Melbourne’ Agora 1: 47-52, 2011.

‘The role of naturalists in environmental conservation’ Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria 122 (2): xci–xcv, 2010.

‘Policing the Port Phillip District of NSW’ Journal of Police History 1: 4–8, 2010.