Back in our OTR Autumn issue we took you on a journey through the iconic Mallee region with the great team from Ten Bag Press to celeberate the Mallee book relase well this time it’s the Wimmera and the team has done another amazing job as the following pages highlight, enjoy the journey.
The creative team that brought you the best-selling book ‘The Mallee’ has continued its travels through western Victoria, taking hundreds of images, meeting remarkable people and collecting their stories. These images and tales have now been turned turned into another stunning book, ‘The Wimmera – a journey through western Victoria’, which will be released this month.
The Wimmera is edged by the Mallee to the north, the Western District to South Australia and the goldfields to the east. To capture the essence of the region, award-winning photojournalists Noel Butcher, David Callow, Andrew Chapman, Melanie Faith Dove, Erin Jonasson and Jaime Murcia followed sections of a 1950s railway map, journeying along some lines that are still in use and others that have been closed for the best part of 40 years.
They discovered a host of tiny towns and districts off the beaten track, some deserted, some with vibrant communities and some with surprising and quirky landmarks.
Author Adam McNicol, who grew up in the tiny town of Manangatang in western Victoria, oversaw the project and wrote the words. He remarks, “The Wimmera is a land full of contrasts, from dryland scrub in the north to stately trees and rolling green hills in the south, and our journey takes you to every corner of this most interesting region. There has never been a better time to celebrate what’s in our backyard, and the Wimmera is such an interesting place. On our travels, we learned about the region’s Indigenous history, including the celebrated cricket team that toured England in the 1860s. We met fifth- and sixth-generation farmers and came across so many people who are proud to call the Wimmera home. Plus, we were extra lucky to walk away from Warracknabeal with a prized scone recipe!
“We hope to inspire readers to check out the Wimmera for themselves. And even if you can’t travel there, ‘The Wimmera: A journey through western Victoria’ can take you on a journey through the region from the comfort of your couch.’
This great page-turner is now available through Ten Bag Press and readers will be taken on a journey to places like Apsley, Rupanyup, Watchem, Minyip and Jeparit. The book is a celebration of this picturesque outback region in Australia and retails for $59.99, www.tenbagpress.com.au.
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