COMPILED BY
DIP. ED., MELB. UNIV.
I submit this volume to the public in the hope that it may increase theamount of interest usually shown in Australian History by deepening thegeneral knowledge of the subject, and illustrating it by those vividdetails which arrest the attention and enable the student to visualizepast events.
The number of events described in a Source Book must necessarily besmaller than that in histories of another type; but the aim is to placethe student in contact with the evidence of history in order that he maybecome his own historian by drawing his own deductions from thecontemporary records. The greatest historian can find no materialsulterior to such as are here presented, for there is nothing ulterior tothem but the deeds themselves. They are the records written by the menwho gave their life and health to lay the foundation of Australia'sgreatness—by Phillip, weakening under the racking cares of the infantstate; by Sturt in the scorching desert, as the last duty of anexhausting day. They are aglow with the heat of action; they areinspiring in their quiet modesty and strength.
In order to give greater continuity to the volume, short introductionshave been placed at the head of each selection. It has been impossibleto quote in full all the documents of which use has been made, butfuller information may be obtained by reference to the "source"mentioned at the head of each selection. The editor or author of thesource and its date of publication are shown in order to facilitatefurther research.
The Source Book has been compiled with attention to the requirements ofschools, and it is hoped that teachers in Australia will availthemselves of the opportunity to introduce the study of history fromcontemporary documents, and thus in this respect bring Australia intoline with the other countries where source books are already familiar.The section on discovery and exploration may with advantage be used inthe study of geography.
My thanks are due to the proprietors of the "Times" for permission toquote certain pages from "The Times History of the War in South Africa,"and "The Times History of the War and Encyclopaedia," and also for the"Dispatch from a Special Correspondent at the Dardanelles," printed inthe "Times," 7 May 1915.
It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge my indebtedness toProfessor Scott, of Melbourne University (at whose suggestion the workwas undertaken), for his interest and advice; and to Arthur Wadsworth,Esq., Chief Librarian for the Parliament of the Commonwealth, for hiscourteous assistance.
GWENDOLEN H. SWINBURNE.
HAWTHORN,
MELBOURNE.