Beyond the Black Stump - Australia's Borders

Author: Jeff + Claude AI

Genre: Australia, States, Politics, History

Description: Long before satellites and GPS, colonial administrators drew arbitrary lines across one of the world's oldest continents, creating boundaries that still shape Australia today. From the notorious 141st and 129th meridian disputes to the sprawling reach of the Dingo Fence and the strange geometry of the three-state corners, this book traces the surveyors, politicians, and accidents of history that carved up the country. Along the way, it explores how these colonial-era lines intersect with Indigenous country and modern native title, revealing a nation whose borders are far stranger — and more contested — than they appear on a map.

Summary

Ch1. Lines Across Empty Country

Ch2. The Eastern Borders

Ch3. The 141st Meridian Dispute

Ch4. The 129th Meridian Mystery

Ch5. Queensland's Northern Reach

Ch6. The Three Corners

Ch7. The Dingo Fence

Ch8. Modern Borders and Native Title