Between the Ranges

A Centenary History of Land Settlement at Appila 1872-1972

Compiled by J. D. W. Babbage

Illustrated by J. D. Francis

Published by Author, printed at The Griffin Press, 1972, [First Edition] [Signed], ISBN 0959887008, black and white photographic plates, black and white photographs and illustrations, illustrated endpapers, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, Signed by Author on title page, minor edge and shelf wear, minor rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, previous owners inscription and details on title page, minor markings to some page edges, dustjacket shows a little edge and shelf wear with a little rubbing, bumping, marking and small chips and tears (see photographs)

“The decision to commemorate the centenary of land settlement at Appila was made at a public meeting late in 1971.  Among the projects discussed for the celebrations was that of the publication of a history of the district, and a book committee was elected.  The committee approached a number of people to conduct research into the past hundred years, and this book is the result of their findings.
As two towns have grown in the Hundred of Appila since it was proclaimed in 1871, the Appila district actually comprises the eastern half of it, and a slice of the western portion of the Hundred of Tarcowie.  Accordingly, it was decided to limit the scope of this book to the land inside the following boundaries: on the west – the top of the line of hills often referred to as the Wirrabara Range.  On the north – the road stretching east from Yandiah.  On the east – the three chain road west of Hornsdale.  On the south – the boundary of the Hundred of Appila.  Each of the boundaries selected is approximately ten miles long, and within this area the land varies greatly.  The western end slopes down to the deep gash cut in the landscape by the Pine Creek, from which the Appila Plain stretches east to the township.  The town itself is set on the edge of the flood plain of the Appila Creek, and is surrounded by hills on all sides except to the west, which allows a fine view of the southern portion of the Flinders Ranges.  Through a gap in the hills northwest the blue bulk of Mount Remarkable towers in solitary splendour, and the extension of the Pekina Ranges, a few miles to the east, includes the bald eminence known locally as Mount Mary.  The district, then, is almost equally divided between flat country and undulating hills … “