Reviews for Rush That Never Ended A History of Australian Mining

The average rating for Rush That Never Ended A History of Australian Mining based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2007-12-14 00:00:00 Jeffrey Schmidt Before the review, some context for my opinion: - read this for a university course on the resource industry - I have worked and currently work around the mining industry in Australia - I am from Western Australia. For those non-Australians, this means a unique parochialism resulting from clinging to the western edge of the continent, isolated from the rest of Oz by a vast desert that has become the nation's quarry. This produces a certain bipolar character. - I think Geoffery Blainey (once the country's most soundbite friendly historian) a dill. The rush that never ended attempts to provide a history of Australia's most significant industry - mining/ exploitation of minerals. Beginning with the quirks of colonial rule that discouraged gold exploration and the role of cornish migrants in kicking of the tin industry, the story attempts to cover the significant finds/ rushes/ metals in all states. Along the way, key events such as the Eureka Stockade and the rise of BHP are explored to highlight the impact mining had on the development of Australian society, identity and politics. As a book, its an easy read as it roars along like a Contiki tour through 200 years of mining history. No time to stop! Get the photo and move on! As a record of history it is limited at best. Granted it is mostly likely done as an overview but there are glaring omissions and limited analysis for industry that has had a massive impact on Australia's development. As a 'sandgroper' (westralian) the east-coast-centric nature of the story is laughable. It would be even more myopic if not for his coverage of Queensland's Mt Morgan. The significance of the Kalgoorlie goldfield's in the success of Australia's Federation vote is largely missed; the role of the Pilbra iron ore boom of the 60s is covered in a page, insufficient for an event that drove post WWII economic changes and shaped the city of Perth (sadly it was a crap period in architecture, so we endure a glass and aluminium sterile centre); little mention of the behemoth that is Olympic Dam. Interesting tales such as the dedicated hunt for diamonds that found Argyle and sorry tale of the disaster of Wittenoom. Sure its an obscure book that few will come across but the way I figure it, someone should review these ones....... there are a thousand other people to write lines on Tom Clancy, the Brontes and Harry Potter.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-01-21 00:00:00 Melissa Bonner A wonderful book, dense with information. Deserves a second reading to glean it all. But what can you expect from a history of mining in a major mining country done in under 400 pages? Well written and entertaining. My only beef with it, is that if you read the back cover you will get something different than you were expecting (expecting somewhat more modern coverage). Over ~95% of the book covers mining history up through 1930...with the majority of that being the in the 1800's. Only the last 20 pages or so really touch on more modern deposits, and very brief coverage is given to each site. My desire to learn more about Australia is blooming, especially as we consider going there to work. Thanks for great maps on the front and back covers, I feel pretty decent in Australian geography now....should be a requirement for all books! Excellent book, highly recommend.