Book launch: Townsend of the Ranges by Peter Crowley

Townsend of the Ranges by Peter Crowley. Photo: National Library of Australia.

Join Peter Crowley in conversation with ABC National Affairs Correspondent Melissa Clarke at the National Library of Australia as they discuss Crowley’s debut book, Townsend of the Ranges.

The event will be available to view live online via the Library’s Facebook and YouTube pages. You do not need to book a ticket to watch the event online.

Following the discussion in the Theatre, Peter Crowley will be available for book signings in the Foyer.

About Townsend of the Ranges

Surveyor Thomas Scott Townsend (1812–1869) is an elusive, almost legendary figure, closer to folklore than to history. His name is given to the country’s second highest mountain, but the details of his career are obscure and his personal identity has remained a mystery. Yet, if you live in southern New South Wales or Victoria, there is a good chance that your town or district has been influenced by his work: he covered a huge extent of territory and worked furiously hard in a career that spanned two decades.

Townsend of the Ranges is a sensitively told, surprisingly dramatic biography of Townsend’s life, from his early days as a junior surveyor in Australia to his time living as a recluse in London before his death. Crowley has engaged in extensive research of primary sources, relying on letters from estranged family members, Townsend’s employers and Townsend himself to map the story of his life. Accompanied by original maps drawn by Townsend, this book is a beautifully written portrait of a young man fighting loneliness in the wilderness, mapping the watershed crests of the Dividing Ranges and the contours of south-eastern Australia. The narrative also reveals a picture of destruction and violence as settlers and squatters moved across the land.

About Peter Crowley

Dr Peter Crowley is a medical doctor, a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia and an historical researcher. He attended school in Gippsland and lived for several years in the Strzelecki Ranges, a place of steep hills, eerie mists and occasional snow falls. Peter has been married to Rasika, a teacher, for over 30 years and the couple have two adult sons, Tom and Dan. He lives in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Land and feels most at home close to the Yarra River. Townsend of the Ranges  is his first book.

About Melissa Clarke

Melissa Clarke is the ABC’s National Affairs Correspondent. She has reported on federal politics from Parliament House in Canberra for more than 15 years, specialising in environment, energy and climate change policy. Melissa is also a lifelong alpine adventurer, having traversed the Australian alps by bushwalking, backcountry skiing, trail running and mountain biking.

The Details

What: Book launch: Townsend of the Ranges by Peter Crowley
When: Tuesday, 8 October 2024 from 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place Canberra ACT 2600
Cost: Entry is free to this event but bookings are essential.