Author: SMITH, JIM.
Title: The Curiosity of Melbourne Ward and his Great barrier Reef & Blue Mountains museums.
Description: First Edition; Demy 4to; pp. 88; illustrated endpapers, text illustrated with numerous photographs, many in colour, select bibliography, bound in original stiff illustrated wrapper, signed by author on title page, fine copy. Wentworth Falls, NSW; Den Fenella Press; 2019. "For over 20 years, an unassuming shed in the grounds of the Hydro Majestic hotel offered visitors access to one of Australia's greatest private collections of anthropological artefacts and biological specimens. Entering its dim interior, tourists would be greeted by the curator Melbourne Ward, a man as unusual as his eclectic assemblage. His 'Gallery of Natural History and Native Art' opened in 1943 and closed in 1965. A branch Museum at Echo Point called Pyala stayed open until 1972, being run by Mel's wife Halley after his death in 1966."

Keywords: Australian aboriginal history local history New South Wales Queensland