Chronicles of Coochiemudlo

About the book

Chronicles of Coochiemudlo was published nearly 30 years ago but it's still the most comprehensive anthology of thoughtful writing about our island. The Chronicles is reliable historic record, and the island's natural assets are expertly surveyed, and there are plenty of anecdotes and photos too. The first-hand stories give the modern reader an authentic impression of over a century of continuous settlement.

Sections of the Chronicles are available as PDFs. Each PDF of the parts include the chapters — the links and chapter details listed below. The Chronicles is no longer in print.

The Chronicles of Coochiemudlo was edited by John Pearn and published in 1993. Twelve authors contributed to the stories that range from the scholarly to the entertaining. Information about these contributors are listed in the Introduction.

Chapters and links

  • Chapter 1: In the Beginning: Aboriginal Forebears on Coochiemudlo Island

    by John Pearn

    Chapter 2: Coochiemudlo Island in the Nineteenth Century

    by Edward Field Jones

    Link to Part I: Pre-Federation Coochiemudlo

  • Chapter 3: Kids at Coochiemudlo — The Pre-War Years (A Personal Account)

    by David Stewart

    Chapter 4: The Army and World War Two

    by John Pearn and Maureen O’Connor

    Link to Part II: The Twentieth Century: The first fifty years

  • Chapter 5: The Botany of Coochiemudlo

    by Margaret Walker

    Chapter 6: The Sea and its Shells

    by Frances Connor

    Link to Part III : Natural History

  • Chapter 7: The Poetry of Coochiemudlo

    By John Pearn

    Chapter 8: Writers on Coochiemudlo

    Link to Part IV: Cultural Life

  • Chapter 9: Island Medical Care in the Early Years

    by Beryl Underwood

    Chapter 10: Childhood Memories of Coochiemudlo — 1970s

    by Christine O’Connor

    Link to Part V: Post-War Decades

  • Chapter 11A: Pioneer Island Farm: The Life and Times of Douglas and Mary Morton

    by Joan Bland

    Chapter 12: Building an Island Home

    by Rosemary Opala

    Chapter 13: The Land and its Uses

    by Denise Foley and John Pearn

    Chapter 14: Opportunities Past and Lessons for the Future

    by Denis O'Connor

    Link to Part VI: The Hand of Humankind Part 1

  • Chapter 15: Houses and Housing — The Built Environment

    by John Pearn and Edwin Codd

    Chapter 16: Reading the Signs

    by John Pearn

    Chapter 17: The Essence of Coochie — Safeguarding Future Options for Coochiemudlo Island

    by Darryl Low Choy

    Link to Part VII: The Hand of Humankind Part 2