1813: A TALE THAT GREW IN THE TELLING [146.10]
Siobhan Lavelle explains the title in the forward of her book. It comes from the opening sentence of the foreword in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The title reflects the myths surrounding historical Blue Mountains events, namely the 1813 crossing by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. Siobhan notes that her research began as a PHD thesis that resulted in this book.
The cover features the famous illustration from The Sydney Mail 25 Dec. 1880, depicting an “artist’s impression” representation of the Three Explorers and their party. Underneath this picture is a photograph of Katoomba’s Marked Tree, when it was wrapped in black plastic in the days following its assault by a heavy vehicle.
From the Introduction…“This book examines the commemoration of the First Crossing through poetry, literature and visual images as well as commemorative ceremonies, monuments and plaques.” The “examination” referred to is thorough in detail from the philosophy behind the several Blue Mountains memorials to the men such as Caley, Barrallier and Bass, who all came before the famous Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson. An entire chapter deals with the various Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Penrith monuments, some minor and/or no longer in existence.
The diaries of the Three Explorers are examined and discussed in detail. Siobhan has collected several poems written at the time and years after the event. She discusses how the narrative has changed, mainly romantically, over the years and how the Crossing has been documents in the several publications in the last 200 years. The centenary celebration of 1913 is minutely detailed, with the robust arguments that accompanied the organisation of the event; an event that set the standard for following commemorations. Of particular interest is the history of monuments and commemorations at Mt York, including that of the bicentenary of 2013.
The many myths and legends surrounding Katoomba’s famous Marked Tree are examined in minute detail in an attempt to sort fact from fiction, complete with an illustration from the 1886 Picturesque Atlas of Australia [040.09RB].
The history of the early days of the Blue Mountains is riddled with controversies, for example, Caley’s Repulse, just one of such places and events dealt with in detail.
Historians owe a debt of gratitude to Siobhan Lavelle for this thoroughly researched document, with subjects surely not touched on in such detail by those who came before Siobhan. From the words of Associate Professor, Simon Ryan, “This is a truly formidable work of concentrated historical analysis.”
1813: A Tale that Grew in the Telling is available to BMHS members in the Research Centre Library, which is open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm.
