AustLit

Taken from the Preface: "The increasing interest which that part of the Public, who have directed their attention to our Australian possessions, take in every thing that relates to them, as well as the anxious desire of those who have intentions of Emigrating, to know any little particulars of the modes of the country they are about to sojourn in, make it probably that a Journal of a Journey Lately Made to Port Philip Overland from Sydney, by a party of Gentlemen long resident in the Colony, will NOT BE ACCEPTABLE" It was intended only for the circle of the Writer's own Family, and, in the liberty giving it wider circulation, unknown to its Author, must be found whatever aplogy is necessary for its imperfections, being a literal copy of the original... Many of the details may appear tedious and unnecessary - they are retained as illustrative of the nature of the difficulties and troubles, as well as the pleasures, that incident to the Bush Life of Australia".

Abstract: Thomas Walker, a merchant and banker, published the journal of his overland trip to Melbourne under the title A Month in the Bush of Australia, using the pseudonym "A Gentlemen." Walker prefaces the work by stating that there is an anxious desire by those intending to emigate to Australia to be provided with more information about the colonies they're moving to. Walker notes, however, that his journal will not contain the necessary information they require because his journal was written for his family, not as an instruction manual. In the preface Walker also states that his journal was given a wider circulation without his knowledge. Therefore, as a literal copy of the original manuscript, Walker's journal contains descriptions of the troubles and pleasures of bush life in Australia - but not intended as an emigrant guide. Written in diary format, these short sketches detail the places and people that Walker encountered.