AustLit

19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

Born in Van Diemen’s Land, Garnet Walch (1843-1913) was a journalist and dramatist (he adapted Boldrewood's Robbery Under Arms for the stage), publishing Huddart Parker & Co.'s Guide to Tasmania in the 1890s. This work emphasised the need for a revised guide to Tasmania as the leading booksellers in Melbourne were selling guides four years old. Walch detailed the journey from Victoria to Tasmania, the regions of the colony and excursions from Hobart and Launceston in an anecdotal narrative style. This work was different to guides arranged in an indexed manner. The work concludes with advertisements and information on travel and transport costs. Walch also wrote the travel narrative Victoria in 1880.