Great Barrier Reef by William J. Dakin

Great Barrier Reef

And Some Mention of Other Australian Coral Reefs

by William J. Dakin

The Australian National Travel Association, 1955, black and white photographic plates, clippings at publication time included, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, some foxing and discolouration to covers, highlighting to one or two pages, no inscriptions, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing, bumping, chipping, creasing and small tears to edges , corners and spine, reinforced with tape on underside (see photographs)

“This story concerns the wonder and beauty of the greatest coral region of the seven seas.  As the author so aptly writes, “The words ‘coral’ and ‘coral islands’ have generally called up visions of romance and one can remember how they not only formed the background of many stories of boyhood, but made at least one best-seller of recent times.  To scientists of the last hundred years they have, however, been magnets of great attractive power… They have provided the most fascinating problems for the marine biologist.”  For the late William J. Dakin, D.Sc., Emeritus Professor of Zoology, University of Sydney, the amazing Great Barrier Reef region, the scattered green atolls of the tropic seas and other coral regions, such as the Abrolhos Islands of the West, constituted a lure and a life-long delight.  His life-work concluded with the writing of this volume – a brilliant effort to make known, to every visitor and to those who cannot travel, the unique geographical feature of the Australian continent.”