Outback Murder a How-To Guide Kelly Handson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Outback murder A how-to guide Kelly Handson My grandmother is a crime- or Bony as he was more commonly by Arthur Upfield: a biography fiction fanatic. She loves anything known to readers, who was Gran’s commissioned by her family. She sinister and can sniff out a crime absolute favourite. The stories were generously donated this to the scene while tending to her prize staged against varied Australian library in 2005, together with pumpkin-patch. She is that person outback settings. Detective Bony’s correspondence from Upfield about who reduces traffic to a standstill as father was a European settler and his the project, and it is now a key item she stops her car to get a glimpse mother was an Aboriginal woman. in the collection.2 of a taped crime scene and possibly Gran’s eyes sparkled as she explained I walk through the double doors view a handcuffed perp. If I ever that this was quite controversial at of the Baillieu Library, keen to lost anything as a child, whether it the time. But the most exciting story understand just what had captivated was a button (not so important) or was when the author, Arthur Upfield not only my Gran but thousands my favourite Strawberry Shortcake himself, was involved in a real-life of readers around the world. If you limited-edition holographic badge criminal investigation. This had been look for Arthur Upfield’s novels in (critical), she was our resident the pièce de résistance for Gran: the the University of Melbourne Library detective. I would sit in her Sherlock line between fiction and real life had online catalogue, your search will Holmes-esque study, which was been crossed. return dozens of items. When you crowded with timber furniture Arthur Upfield (1890–1964), check the details, you will notice and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. who led a fascinating life in the the location code ‘SpC’—Special I would face her across the expanse red dirt of Australia’s outback, was Collections. Perhaps you have seen of desktop and she would turn on Australia’s premier crime-fiction exhibitions drawn from Special the gold brass lamp, aiming it at writer in the early 1930s.1 For this Collections from time to time, such my young and anxious face. The reason librarians at the University of as rare books displayed in glass cases, interrogation would begin, followed Melbourne were excited in 2004–05 or erotic novels from the 1980s by an extensive investigation, after by the opportunity to buy from that can still cause a stir in some which only occasionally would the several dealers in Australia and quarters. But did you know that item actually be recovered. overseas an extensive collection of these books are only a tiny fraction Years later, when I asked Gran manuscripts, typescripts, scrapbooks, of the 200,000 volumes of books, about the beginnings of her crime correspondence, notes, ephemera and journals and other assorted literary obsession, she revealed it was her objects such as the very typewriter material that make up the Special love affair with all of the fantastic Upfield had used to write his Collections? All have been deemed detectives she found among the ever-popular novels. Everyone was ‘closed access’ due to their age, value pages of crime fiction. There were surprised when an elderly lady, after or uniqueness, as the website states the greats, of course: Sherlock reading a local newspaper article this is intended to ‘ensure the items’ Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercules reporting the recent acquisition, long-term care and preservation for Poirot. But it was Detective telephoned the university. She had future generations of scholars and Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte, an original manuscript written researchers’. Kelly Handson, ‘Outback murder: A how-to guide’ 23 Portrait of Arthur Upfield, Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne. So how does the public get to It was around this time that the and travelled around with his view the Arthur Upfield collection prominent historical figure, A.O. swag, making mates along the way. and its numerous manuscripts Neville, Western Australia’s chief After returning from service in the marked with notes scribbled in the protector of Aborigines, was at his Australian Imperial Force, he took hand of the writer himself ?3 You most influential.4 Neville’s job title up writing. His surroundings and must fill out an online request form suggests the irony of his position in the people he met vividly influenced so that your chosen gems may be an overly paternalistic government. his work. Upon finishing his first retrieved from what I imagine to be His policies, based upon a philosophy crime novel but feeling far from never-ending, darkened aisles. From of assimilation and white-race happy with the final product, Upfield the large array available, I eagerly dominance over other races, were a came across an old friend from the choose curiously titled novels such as major factor leading to tragedies such war, Leon Wood, now a tracker Bony buys a woman and Bony and the as the Stolen Generations, which for the Queensland police. Wood white savage, then I select some more had devastating effects on Aboriginal was the son of a settler father and serious-sounding titles: Breakaway people that are still felt strongly today. Aboriginal mother. But he did not House and The Murchison murders. In the Eurocentric view prevalent know that he was soon to become I approach the friendly face at the in Australia at that time, Aboriginal the main inspiration for the much- desk in the Cultural Collections people were the ‘other’; their supposed loved detective, Bony. Upfield always Reading Room, with my pen and difference added an extra dimension insisted that Bony was at least 80 paper in hand. The man shakes his of interest to a fictional character. per cent real. The appeal of a unique head at me: pens are forbidden—only Terry Walker, in his comprehensive fictional detective, whose skills in lead pencils to take notes. Oh. I guess biography The strange case of Arthur sleuthing and approaches to crime- I can understand the reluctance to Upfield and Snowy Rowles, claims solving differed markedly from those have ink anywhere near priceless and that Upfield got along well with his of his predecessors, proved to be a rare books, I’d just never considered Aboriginal co-workers and showed winning combination. it before today. none of the racial prejudice common Writing novels suited Upfield’s Immediately drawn into Upfield’s in Western Australia during the reign wandering bushman lifestyle books, I find it easy to see why so of A.O. Neville. perfectly: he simply wrote wherever many of his 29 novels were translated Although Upfield was born in his work took him. He was an into 11 languages and brought him England, he failed to do well in the enthusiastic and dedicated writer, great success both at home and various courses his father had enrolled but he wasn’t choosy about the abroad. His descriptive techniques him in, such as real estate and kind of jobs he picked up along are superb, not to mention the architecture, and was consequently the way. These included boundary exoticism and uniqueness of a main sent to Australia in 1911 to become rider, shearer’s cook, fur trapper, character of Aboriginal heritage. a ‘man’. This turned out to be the bullock driver, opal gouger, fence This combination appealed to both best thing that happened to Upfield. runner and camel breaker. In a local and international readership. He found work on outback stations 1928 his experience with camels 24 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 12, June 2013 Arthur Upfield,Bony and the white savage, London: Heinemann, 1961. Arthur Upfield Collection, Special Collections, Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne. earned him a job with the Western gave Rowles a job. In the months to Australian government at the camel follow, Rowles would often call in at station in the remote Dromedary the camel station to say hello, and he Hills. His task: to patrol a section was popular with everyone. Upfield of the rabbit-proof fence, built to later wrote, ‘Looking backward, I keep the European rabbit out of can find no excuse for anyone on the pastoral land in Western Australia. Murchison not liking Snowy Rowles. Upfield’s two faithful camels, Milly His appearance at bush camp at once and Curly, pulled his buggy up and vanquished depression’.5 Upfield and down the familiar section of the Rowles became close mates, often Number One Rabbit-Proof Fence. sharing a beer in a time when life Yes, there were actually three fences, in the outback could be lonely and aptly named Number One, Number desolate. Little did they know a storm Two and Number Three, each as was heading their way. inefficient as the other. In those days, Meanwhile, Upfield continued when it was believed that the little his writing while patrolling the fence, devil rabbits would never set foot and in early 1930 was trying to come in Western Australia, it was a grave up with a concept for a new Bony offence for the public to use the fence novel. In his 1934 pamphlet The maintenance tracks as though they Murchison murders Upfield likened were roads. If you disobeyed this writing to goldmining: where once rule (which happened frequently) base, Upfield would put his feet up on there were lots of gold nuggets just you would receive a fine equivalent the veranda and share a beer with his waiting to be discovered, now it to $200, which was set in 1907 and boss, George Ritchie.