The Dog Fence: A Journey Across the Heart of Australia

by James Woodford

At 3,500 miles, Australia's dog fence is one of the longest human-made structures on Earth. It slices across the country's desert heart, dividing the continent to keep dingoes away from livestock. Best-selling author James Woodford embarks on a journey to follow its length, traveling some of the loneliest and harshest country in the world.

Genres: Australia, Nonfiction, Travel, History, Animals

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[The Bookshop Umina]

A really informative account of a trip along a fence I didn't even know existed!

My only complaint is that it may have been better as a series of articles rather than a book - I think I am too used to that expectation of being moved by a novel, it makes me think something is missing in non-fiction....

[Katherine Doll]

ugh. had to skip many sections of this for the descriptions of maimed, shot, electrocuted, hurt, killed, rounded-up, diseased, etc., etc. animals. i understand the endless battle between sheep farming and natural predators, but can't read about it.

sorry, wasn't expecting that.

the history and characters the writer encountered are indeed really interesting though.

[Lynette]

After a recent trip to outback Australia, I found this a compelling read. Woodford writes honestly about his disquiet regarding some of the practices he observes, and with sensitivity about the kind of resilience and brutal honesty of the characters he meets. I enjoyed it immensely and learned a little more about that part of my homeland that I will probably never get to visit because of its incredible isolation and need for survival skills.

[John]

Despite the name I think I thought that this book was about the Rabbit Proof Fence but it's essentially the same thing.
An interesting journey along an interesting structure! At times you could tell it was written by a journalist as it came across as a bit factual (as in, very list-based information, rather than prose-based) but overall I really enjoyed it.

[Samantha Rivet]

great story but got lost in the names and characters a bit.

[Ian O'Donnell]

Even though it was basicly a travel log it was very readable. The characters he meets along the way seem very Much the same as everyone describes out back Aussies. Nothing new there . It does however make you realise that everything we humans do has a profound effect on everything around it . Sure it is effective in keeping the dingoes out but what does it do to the rest of the fauna of Australia in preventing their natural migrations around the continent e.g. emus and roos and other species .

[Erica]

Interesting (or crazy) to travel along a 5400 km mark in a landscape that signifies the lengths a gov't will go through to protect an economic asset.
This book is a nice cultural geography of Australia's dog fence and the personalities he meets along the way who monitor it and are shaped by its presence and surrounding landscape.

[Berni]

The most astounding thing about this book is the sense of isolation experienced by the people who work on the fence. One man spends 200 days alone in a year in the outback for his job, working on the Dog Fence. He has been doing this for 20 years. That is a hell of a lot of 'me' time.

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...)]

Seen the dog fence in some places during my travels and loved reading about this immense fence, or as the back of the book says "one of the longest human-made structures on Earth".

[Lori]

Very informative , not boring, account of traveling the dog fence of Australia. Some of the Australian slang confused me a bit:)

[Tracy Walker]

This book crisscrosses nature, geography, history and culture. A fascinating read as well as being very emotional in parts.

[Thomas Isern]

Will review this work in my weekly feature, Plains Folk. Overall a good piece of travel writing, but somehow lacking in the element of the quest.

[Jen Pritchard]

What a great insight into the heart of our country and decisions we have made to try and survive in this harsh environment.

[Cognac Legion]

Best book for desert field work.

[Robert]

Became reacquainted with areas of the outback I have visited and gave me a thirst to see more. Great Outback yarn with a touch of history

[Lee Belbin]

Great outback yarn