Wealth of the reef: the entanglement of economic and environmental values in early twentieth century representations of the Great Barrier Reef

Lloyd, Rohan (2015) Wealth of the reef: the entanglement of economic and environmental values in early twentieth century representations of the Great Barrier Reef. Melbourne Historical Journal, 43 (1). pp. 40-62.

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Abstract

Histories of the Great Barrier Reef have characterised the period between 1900 and 1939 as a creative prelude to modern Reef conservationism. These histories, however, have not given sufficient consideration to how perceptions of the Reef were entangled with evaluations of its economic potential. By examining the writings of Edmund Banfield, the intensification of tourism and science, and a collection of popular texts about the Reef, this paper argues that early twentieth-century perceptions of the Reef were entangled with an utilitarian ethos which leaned toward exploitation.

Item ID: 43349
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0076-6232
Keywords: Great Barrier Reef history; North Queensland history; Edmund Banfield; the beachcomber; Embury expedition; Pollock expedition; Great Barrier Reef Committee; Low Isles expedition
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A version of this publication was included as Chapter 4 of the following PhD thesis: Lloyd, Rohan James (2016) Fathoming the reef: a history of European perspectives on the Great Barrier Reef from Cook to GBRMPA. PhD thesis, James Cook University, which is available Open Access in ResearchOnline@JCU. Please see the Related URLs for access.

Date Deposited: 30 May 2016 01:08
FoR Codes: 21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2103 Historical Studies > 210303 Australian History (excl Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9505 Understanding Past Societies > 950503 Understanding Australias Past @ 100%
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