About the Book
Australia Twice Traversed
In 1880 Giles published The Journal of a Forgotten Expedition, being an account of his third expedition, and in 1889 appeared Australia Twice Traversed: The Romance of Exploration in two substantial volumes. This gives an account of his five expeditions. He made a number of other minor journeys and his last years were spent as a clerk in the warden's office at Coolgardie, where his great knowledge of the interior was always available for prospectors. Giles was made a fellow and was given the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1880 and was made a knight of the crown of Italy.
Despite his explorations, the various Australian governments at the time turned their respective backs on his achievements once they had been completed, and refused to patronise any further exploits or give him much in the way of financial reward. Governor Sir William Jervois claimed on 11 October 1881, 'I am informed that he gambles and that his habits are not always strictly sober'.
Giles was a land classifier in the Western District of Victoria in 1877-79, and became a clerk in the Coolgardie, Western Australia warden's office in the 1890s,. Giles eventually died of pneumonia, virtually forgotten, on 13 November 1897 and is buried at Coolgardie Cemetery. He was unmarried.
About the Author
Ernest Giles, 1835-1897
Ernest Giles was born in Bristol, England son of William Giles, a merchant, and Jane Elizabeth, née Powell. Giles was educated at Christ's Hospital school, London. At the age of 15, he emigrated to Australia, joining his parents and took up residence in Adelaide, South Australia. In 1852 Giles went to the Victorian goldfields, then obtained a position in the General Post Office, Melbourne, and afterwards one in the county court. Soon tiring of town life Giles went to the back country and obtained valuable experience as a bushman; he was exploring on the Darling River in 1861, looking for pastoral country. He was searching for land capable of cultivating hemp, as it was valuable for rope at the time.
Giles didn't attempt a regular exploring expedition until 1872, when with two other men he left Chambers pillar, South Australia (now in the Northern Territory), around the middle of August and traversed much previously untrodden country to the north-west and west. Finding their way barred by Lake Amadeus and that their horses were getting very weak, a return was made to the Finke River and thence to Charlotte Waters and Adelaide, where Giles arrived in January 1873. Giles looked upon his expedition as a failure, but he had done well considering the size and equipment of his party.
