05/02/2026
A February book launch appreciating history, art and endurance.
In the mid-1860s, during a severe drought in South Australia, Surveyor-General George Woodroffe Goyder travelled more than 1,000 kilometres across the colony on horseback in the heat of summer. His work resulted in what we now know as Goyder’s Line, a boundary that has influenced agriculture and settlement in South Australia.
The Art of Goyder’s Line by John Glasson tells this story through both history and image. Although Goyder did not commission an official illustrator, artists and early photographers of the time captured the landscapes and towns along his route. Their works, paired with contemporary photographs taken from the same locations, allow us to see the land as Goyder once did and to observe how it has changed.
Launched in early February at The Caledonian Hotel in North Adelaide, the book grew from a moment beside the River Broughton that sparked John Glasson’s search through archives, galleries, and libraries. Following Goyder’s survey path, he located the sites depicted in nineteenth-century artworks and recorded them again in the present day, bringing past and present together in a single volume.
A thoughtful and visually rich work, The Art of Goyder’s Line invites readers to reflect on land and climate. John also reminds us of the treasure trove of artworks available via our state and national libraries. These works belong to the people, and we need writers like John to unearth their value in modern times.
✏ Limited edition, full colour printed books are available by contacting John: [email protected]
