PHOTOS of Quambatook’s share shop and bowls club are among images of the Mallee captured in a coffee table book being launched this week.
Author and publisher Adam McNicol, who grew up on a mixed farm outside Manangatang, spent two years travelling along the old railway lines of north-west Victoria with a shifting line up of photographers.
“Most of the time it would be two or three people,” he said.
“This was about wandering around enjoying ourselves and seeing what we came up with.”
What he and the five award-winning photographers came up with was “a mountain” of beautiful images and stories.
“Jeez we’ve had a lot of fun,” Mr McNicol told Gannawarra Times.
“And we’ve produced something we’re really proud of.”
The book, The Mallee: A journey through north-west Victoria, also contains a serious history of the region, with a well researched chapter outlining the government’s grand plan to populate the region and and what remains of the scheme 90 years later.
It also contains what Mr McNicol describes as “green shoots” stories of revival.
These include the successful promotion of Lake Tyrell as a tourist destination, the Manangatang races, the community-owned and restored Royal Hotel at Sea Lake and the popular Bakery on Broadway at Wycheproof, which was started by a group of locals.
“The Silo Art Trail is the big one,” Mr McNicol said.
“It’s a great story what that’s done for the little towns.”
The journalist and self-confessed “history nerd”, who started his own publishing company, Ten Bag Press, a decade ago, hopes the new book might also have a positive impact on the small communities it features.
“The way it’s laid out along the railway lines means it’s kind of a travel guide,” he said.
“The pandemic’s been terrible but it’s been good for the book overall because of the domestic tourism focus.
“I think it will remind people in the city that there are genuine outback experiences only four hours’ drive from Melbourne.”
Quamby share shop manager Jodie Russ received deliveries of The Mallee, together with calendars and postcard books, last week.
“It’s very well photographed and well written,” she said.
“And it’s good that the shop, from being unsupported at the start, is being recognised as a positive thing.”
The all-Australian work was designed and printed in regional Victoria.
Visit tenbagpress.com.au or facebook.com/themalleebook for more information.
A physical launch, by Victorian Independent MP Ali Cupper, will take place at the Patchewollock pub on Friday.
