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Hell West and Crooked
The bestselling story of a real-life Crocodile Dundee. In this remarkable memoir, tom Cole tells the stories of his life in the outback during the 1920s and 1930s. With great humour and drama, he recounts his adventures as a drover and stockman in the toughest country in Australia and later on as a buffalo shooter and crocodile hunter in the Northern territory before the war. First published in 1988 and having sold over 100 000 copies, Hell West and Crooked is perfect for anyone who enjoys a classic outback yarn.
356 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
47 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Tom Cole
5 books2 followersThomas Ernest Cole OAM (28 February 1906 – 9 December 1995) was a labourer, stockman, buffalo hunter, crocodile shooter, coffee grower and writer who rode the Australian Northern Territory outback.
Cole was born on 28 February 1906 in London, the eldest son of Ernest Cole and Adelaide Arundel.[3] In 1923, after a falling out with his father and following World War I, he sailed on board Ormuz to Australia.
Cole has been described as the original Australian crocodile dundee, a buffalo shooter, a crocodile hunter and a horseman of the Australian outback.
Cole had started out in Queensland in the Blackall Ranges as a rouseabout or stockman, moving from here to Lake Nash in the Northern Territory and then onto droving cattle down the Birdsville delivering cattle to other states in Australia. He met and worked for many of the big cattle properties.
Cole became acquainted and worked for Jim and Paddy Ambrose from Banka Banka station (Chapter 8 of Hell, West and Crooked). He did not have any horse breaking experience until he met Jim and Paddy and had only helped out a few times but was anxious to get the experience.
Cole was put to the task of breaking in horses for Jim and Paddy Ambrose. He broke in horses and was given the pick of one for every four that he broke in.
Cole would also later race horses named Curio and Black Watch at the race at Barrow Creek. Cole and the Ambroses travelled more than 200 miles for the annual race. Arriving at the race Cole thought it was unspirited that a race be convened without booze. A would-be publican had bought a two tonne truck full of liquor and expecting to make a 300% profit, Paddy and Jim purchased the entire outfit, lock-stock-barrel and bottle. The Banka-Banka encampment then became host for the rest of the meeting and were deemed by the rest of the race meeting as "terribly good fellows". Cole rode in three races and managed a 2nd and a 3rd and whilst not winning a race, Jim Ambrose told him "it's the booze and the company that counts".
Cole worked at many jobs in these first few years a cook at Brunette Downs to a position on one of Sidney Kidman's properties. By 1928 he was appointed Head Stockman at Wave Hill Station one of the Vestey's properties. Cole moved around the stations in the early 1930s as a horse breaker with Vestey's.
By 1932 Cole tried buffalo hunting with Harry Hardy and sold horses to other shooters. He continued buffalo[4] hunting, acquiring a lease at Kapalga, near the Wildman River and then in 1937 buying properties near Pine Creek, Goodparla and Esmeralda which his partner stocked with cattle. Gold deposits were later mined at Esmeralda. In 1932, Cole was at Kapalga where he received word from Jack Hales on the Maroubra about two pearling luggers Raf and Myrtle Olpa which had called into Caledon Bay on the Arnhem Coast and the entire crew had been speared. He heard more about the massacre from other lugger crews that called in to load his hides.
Cole moved to Papua New Guinea in 1950, where he worked as a professional crocodile shooter. He was granted land in 1955 and developed a coffee plantation. He also worked a sawmill for a time.
Cole returned to Australia after 30 years in Papua New Guinea and began writing memoirs.
In 1994 Cole was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to history. His publication, Hell, West and Crooked sold over 100,000 copies.
Cole died on 9 December 1995, survived by his three daughters. His wife predeceased him in 1987.
Cole was born on 28 February 1906 in London, the eldest son of Ernest Cole and Adelaide Arundel.[3] In 1923, after a falling out with his father and following World War I, he sailed on board Ormuz to Australia.
Cole has been described as the original Australian crocodile dundee, a buffalo shooter, a crocodile hunter and a horseman of the Australian outback.
Cole had started out in Queensland in the Blackall Ranges as a rouseabout or stockman, moving from here to Lake Nash in the Northern Territory and then onto droving cattle down the Birdsville delivering cattle to other states in Australia. He met and worked for many of the big cattle properties.
Cole became acquainted and worked for Jim and Paddy Ambrose from Banka Banka station (Chapter 8 of Hell, West and Crooked). He did not have any horse breaking experience until he met Jim and Paddy and had only helped out a few times but was anxious to get the experience.
Cole was put to the task of breaking in horses for Jim and Paddy Ambrose. He broke in horses and was given the pick of one for every four that he broke in.
Cole would also later race horses named Curio and Black Watch at the race at Barrow Creek. Cole and the Ambroses travelled more than 200 miles for the annual race. Arriving at the race Cole thought it was unspirited that a race be convened without booze. A would-be publican had bought a two tonne truck full of liquor and expecting to make a 300% profit, Paddy and Jim purchased the entire outfit, lock-stock-barrel and bottle. The Banka-Banka encampment then became host for the rest of the meeting and were deemed by the rest of the race meeting as "terribly good fellows". Cole rode in three races and managed a 2nd and a 3rd and whilst not winning a race, Jim Ambrose told him "it's the booze and the company that counts".
Cole worked at many jobs in these first few years a cook at Brunette Downs to a position on one of Sidney Kidman's properties. By 1928 he was appointed Head Stockman at Wave Hill Station one of the Vestey's properties. Cole moved around the stations in the early 1930s as a horse breaker with Vestey's.
By 1932 Cole tried buffalo hunting with Harry Hardy and sold horses to other shooters. He continued buffalo[4] hunting, acquiring a lease at Kapalga, near the Wildman River and then in 1937 buying properties near Pine Creek, Goodparla and Esmeralda which his partner stocked with cattle. Gold deposits were later mined at Esmeralda. In 1932, Cole was at Kapalga where he received word from Jack Hales on the Maroubra about two pearling luggers Raf and Myrtle Olpa which had called into Caledon Bay on the Arnhem Coast and the entire crew had been speared. He heard more about the massacre from other lugger crews that called in to load his hides.
Cole moved to Papua New Guinea in 1950, where he worked as a professional crocodile shooter. He was granted land in 1955 and developed a coffee plantation. He also worked a sawmill for a time.
Cole returned to Australia after 30 years in Papua New Guinea and began writing memoirs.
In 1994 Cole was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his contribution to history. His publication, Hell, West and Crooked sold over 100,000 copies.
Cole died on 9 December 1995, survived by his three daughters. His wife predeceased him in 1987.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 9, 2025
Described as the classic Australian outback yarn, Hell West and Crooked by Tom Cole lives up to the billing. As a youth Tom Cole emigrated from Britain to Australia in 1921 to chase a more exciting life and quickly found his feet in droving and mustering cattle. He fitted in well with the characters of the outback, can obviously tell a story well and is an excellent collector of tales. This was written much later in life, with the assistance of his diaries.
"Hell west and crooked" is defined at the start of the book as A cattleman's expression meaning all over the place. 'The horses are hell west and cooked - it'll take a week to muster them' and as well as a good name for his autobiography, it goes some way to explaining the hectic lifestyle and experiences of Tom Cole.
From droving (moving mobs of cattle from the stations to sale, usually to the larger towns) and mustering (rounding up all the cattle running loose on a station for yarding, where ear-tagging, branding, castrating and other things are undertaken, usually precedes droving the steers of saleable quality to market) Tom moved in to managing a few stations as the head stockman, usually in the short term, and horsebreaking (training and making fit for riding) before venturing into buffalo hunting (for skins) and crocodile hunting (also for skins) when the markets were good for that.
As well as a mostly linear timeline explanation of that progression, Cole weaves in the stories of the people he interacts with in the outback. He names hundreds of (mostly) men he meets, works with and drinks with, and tied up in his tales are some of the more well known outback stories. Many of these cross over with other authors anyone who follows my reviews will have heard of, particularly Ion Idriess, but also Frank Clune and Peter Pinney. These included Aboriginals Wonngu (the Caledon Bay murder of Japanese fishermen, as well as a failed police patrol searching for him) and Nemarluk (associated with the murder of prospectors Stephens and Cook), plus good background on the overland telegraph, Sidney Kidman (the Cattle King) who set up a vast number of stations, and even the original flying doctor who was precursor even to John Flynn and his flying doctor service in the outback.
Cole's tales cover the period from his arrival in Australia in 1921, his brief time in the Queensland Outback before his found his place in the Northern Territory Outback. The book ends at the outbreak of World War II, and has a short paragraph on completion which simply states he did not see Arnhem Land again for 45 years.
I understand there is a sequel which covers time he spent in New Guinea hunting crocs.
This is 5 stars, and was going to be from the first page. If you have any interest in this genre then do yourself a favour and go find a copy.
A quote in hindsight. P167
Reflecting, fifty-odd years later, on what was without doubt an idyllic lifestyle, it is difficult to find anything or anywhere today that is remotely like it. Motor vehicles tearing across bitumen roads day and night, cattle mustered with helicopters, aeroplanes landing almost daily at the homesteads, radiotelephone communications, massive road trains shifting cattle a couple of hundred miles in a day... undreamed of in 1930. (from 1988 when the book was published).
"Hell west and crooked" is defined at the start of the book as A cattleman's expression meaning all over the place. 'The horses are hell west and cooked - it'll take a week to muster them' and as well as a good name for his autobiography, it goes some way to explaining the hectic lifestyle and experiences of Tom Cole.
From droving (moving mobs of cattle from the stations to sale, usually to the larger towns) and mustering (rounding up all the cattle running loose on a station for yarding, where ear-tagging, branding, castrating and other things are undertaken, usually precedes droving the steers of saleable quality to market) Tom moved in to managing a few stations as the head stockman, usually in the short term, and horsebreaking (training and making fit for riding) before venturing into buffalo hunting (for skins) and crocodile hunting (also for skins) when the markets were good for that.
As well as a mostly linear timeline explanation of that progression, Cole weaves in the stories of the people he interacts with in the outback. He names hundreds of (mostly) men he meets, works with and drinks with, and tied up in his tales are some of the more well known outback stories. Many of these cross over with other authors anyone who follows my reviews will have heard of, particularly Ion Idriess, but also Frank Clune and Peter Pinney. These included Aboriginals Wonngu (the Caledon Bay murder of Japanese fishermen, as well as a failed police patrol searching for him) and Nemarluk (associated with the murder of prospectors Stephens and Cook), plus good background on the overland telegraph, Sidney Kidman (the Cattle King) who set up a vast number of stations, and even the original flying doctor who was precursor even to John Flynn and his flying doctor service in the outback.
Cole's tales cover the period from his arrival in Australia in 1921, his brief time in the Queensland Outback before his found his place in the Northern Territory Outback. The book ends at the outbreak of World War II, and has a short paragraph on completion which simply states he did not see Arnhem Land again for 45 years.
I understand there is a sequel which covers time he spent in New Guinea hunting crocs.
This is 5 stars, and was going to be from the first page. If you have any interest in this genre then do yourself a favour and go find a copy.
A quote in hindsight. P167
Reflecting, fifty-odd years later, on what was without doubt an idyllic lifestyle, it is difficult to find anything or anywhere today that is remotely like it. Motor vehicles tearing across bitumen roads day and night, cattle mustered with helicopters, aeroplanes landing almost daily at the homesteads, radiotelephone communications, massive road trains shifting cattle a couple of hundred miles in a day... undreamed of in 1930. (from 1988 when the book was published).
September 12, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. I can't believe I have owned it for so long without reading it before. Recommended to anyone with an interest in Australian Outback life.
February 11, 2016
This took a strange amount of effort for a book so entertaining.
Perhaps it was because I'd just read a heap of fantasy followed up by easy, page turning thrillers, but this sensational autobiography took 10 days to finish. Crazy.
Despite portraying bush battling and mustering and buffalo shooting as realistically as possible, I still felt a tinge of romanticism and was drawn to Cole's lifestyle in the 20s and 30s in the NT. Never in my life have I felt more inclined to invest in a swag and saddle (and a horse for that matter) and just go bush.
The last time I felt this way was watching Baz Luhrmann's "Australia", and I feel my reasons for going bush then had more to do with Hugh Jackman's flawless abs than with any real inclination to ride a horse.
In any case, it's motivated me to read more autobiographies of people in the NT. I'm remarkably drawn to this entire territory and it's people and history, and I feel myself becoming more at home here with each passing day.
It's quite unsettling for someone who has never felt more in her element in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
If anything this book has reaffirmed what I believe more than ever; visit the NT at least once in your life, no matter where you're from. It'll change your perspective on just about anything.
Perhaps it was because I'd just read a heap of fantasy followed up by easy, page turning thrillers, but this sensational autobiography took 10 days to finish. Crazy.
Despite portraying bush battling and mustering and buffalo shooting as realistically as possible, I still felt a tinge of romanticism and was drawn to Cole's lifestyle in the 20s and 30s in the NT. Never in my life have I felt more inclined to invest in a swag and saddle (and a horse for that matter) and just go bush.
The last time I felt this way was watching Baz Luhrmann's "Australia", and I feel my reasons for going bush then had more to do with Hugh Jackman's flawless abs than with any real inclination to ride a horse.
In any case, it's motivated me to read more autobiographies of people in the NT. I'm remarkably drawn to this entire territory and it's people and history, and I feel myself becoming more at home here with each passing day.
It's quite unsettling for someone who has never felt more in her element in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
If anything this book has reaffirmed what I believe more than ever; visit the NT at least once in your life, no matter where you're from. It'll change your perspective on just about anything.
January 13, 2024
I’m sure there’s embellishment in the way of all great tales from the country it’s still a fantastic exploration of how the Northern Territory was until really quite recently. Read between the lines and you’ll understand what makes Northern Australia just a bit different, from someone that knows some of these characters and that country quite well
February 7, 2024
Interesting memoir of a stockman.
May 5, 2018
It took me a little while to sink my teeth into this book, the early stage being mainly anecdotes about droving and horse breaking. I found this part, whilst interesting, a trifle repetitive. As the book moved into descriptions of buffalo and crocodile hunting, the pace lifted. I was fascinated by Cole’s relationship with the indigenous people of NT. Even though he was their white boss, he appeared to respect and admire the first Australians. Not much was given away about his private life and I assume this may have been colourful. Fascinating was his recount of survival in the outback and living off the land. I was intrigued by Cole’s high standard of writing given he led a life in the bush. He must have had some decent schooling early on. His dry wit and Australian humour was most entertaining. I gave this book 5 stars due to my keenness to pick it up and immerse myself in this remote NT life of the 20s and 30s.
April 12, 2018
We are currently travelling in the Northern Territory as part of our Australian Austerity Road Trip. So it was with some interest that we came to No 7 Well, stayed at Tennant Creek and many other places mentioned by Tom in the book. He's a real character and has a way with words. A great read that gives a very real idea of what life is like in the NT.
October 26, 2025
What a great story I felt I were. there as I was reading the book. The physical activities of the man shooting whilst on horseback chasing buffalo, cattle the breaking in of horses he had the care for his horses sounds like a true outback cowboy the book is one I could not put down. A real crocodile Dundee
February 24, 2020
Perpetually offended social justice warriors and politically correct nit-pickers need not apply. This is how it was in the 1920s and 1930s in Australia's outback. Rough, tough and not too ecologically careful.
February 4, 2021
An absolutely brilliant book that makes me realise I was born 100 years too late. The scenes are easily imagined without long boring description and the story is direct and to the point. A pleasure to read my late uncles exploits and adventures
Read
July 3, 2022A nice story that made me remember of the times spent on the stations.
Buffalo's hunting, crocks hunting, cattle droving.
And the good thing ot was not having the romance part of it.
Only the outback work side of it.
Buffalo's hunting, crocks hunting, cattle droving.
And the good thing ot was not having the romance part of it.
Only the outback work side of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 5, 2020Fascinating story of life in early 1900s in outback Australia. This man came from England to live outback and he trumped it.
March 12, 2020
Thanks Chad! A real slice of Australian bush history- fascinating.
September 26, 2020
The true life story of Tom Cole, the real crocodile dundee of Australia
May 8, 2022
I enjoyed the tales from yesteryear.
November 27, 2023
Wow, what ecological destruction humans wrought. Burning the forest so it was easier to walk through! Also liked how he tied a log to the back of his truck for break when he went down hills.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2024
Essential entry in the Australian memoir genre, Cole's life is incredible and his anecdotes utterly fascinating, capturing a lost time in rich, anecdotal detail.
May 6, 2023
Funny book on an Englishmen moving to Australia after WW1 to work in the Northern Territory on cattle stations and buffalo shooting. Insightful book that has strong historical stories and adventures.
August 23, 2015
“Hell West and Crooked” by Tom Cole (1988).
Vivid first-hand account of 1920s and 30s Northern Australia as a drover, station hand, buffalo shooter and crocodile hunter.
Holds its place among other Outback classics such as A.B. Facey's “A Fortunate Life” (1981) and Dame Mary Durack's 1959 novel “Kings in Grass Castles.”
This historical autobiography is rich with humor, such as this comment in the opening pages:
“It was here that what I regarded as a serious interruption to my education occurred – I was compelled to go to school, one of the more undistinguished periods of my life. I have no doubt the relief I felt when I left was only exceeded by that of my teachers.”
Vivid first-hand account of 1920s and 30s Northern Australia as a drover, station hand, buffalo shooter and crocodile hunter.
Holds its place among other Outback classics such as A.B. Facey's “A Fortunate Life” (1981) and Dame Mary Durack's 1959 novel “Kings in Grass Castles.”
This historical autobiography is rich with humor, such as this comment in the opening pages:
“It was here that what I regarded as a serious interruption to my education occurred – I was compelled to go to school, one of the more undistinguished periods of my life. I have no doubt the relief I felt when I left was only exceeded by that of my teachers.”
November 1, 2013
Great read interesting insight into early Australian cattle trade, horse breaking and hunting. I think the raw honesty of the writer is a great selling point. Some of the terms used in the book are now considered racially offensive however they were written in a time when these terms were not viewed with a 2013 perspective.
I found his descriptions of the Northern Territory very effective however, given I live there perhaps my mind is automatically filling
in blanks other readers may encounter.
Life was hard back then and I think this book demonstrates that well.
I found his descriptions of the Northern Territory very effective however, given I live there perhaps my mind is automatically filling
in blanks other readers may encounter.
Life was hard back then and I think this book demonstrates that well.
September 3, 2009
My favourite Australian non-fiction book. This is at its heart the story of an English boy who found his place in the world in the desolate outback of Australia. Cole is often billed as the real life crocodile Dundee and there's plenty (dare I say too much) crocodile hunting in this book but it's his times as a cattle drover and buffalo hunter which I enjoyed the most.
Understatement is the great Australian art and this is one of its masterpieces.
Understatement is the great Australian art and this is one of its masterpieces.
February 26, 2011
A fun read, a bit hard to follow without an outback dictionary. There are plenty of sorties started in these pages that would be fun to track down, but they ran together a bit here and with so many names, a different adventure every half year, well the start of the book wasn't much different than the middle or the end. Did get to learn how to run down a buffalo and skin a croc ;)
February 22, 2008
With a matter of fact style touched with humor, Cole writes about his life in northern Australia working with cows, horses, buffalo, and the many interesting people he meets. While I'm not usually interested in books about horses and cattle, I found that Cole's narration held my interest.
April 2, 2015
Just re-read this Aussie Classic as we drove through the outback. Such an entertaining narrative on the early cattlemen, buffalo & crocodile hunters that built this region.
Should be required reading at all Oz high schools.
Should be required reading at all Oz high schools.
April 16, 2014
A good book, found it a bit hard to get into at the beginning but once a third of the way through found it very interesting with real history of what the Northern out back was like and some real adventures during the early years of the 1920s to 30s.
October 27, 2014
Read quite a awhile ago now. One of the best Australian autobiographies I have read.
Tom Cole comes from England as a young lad, and works on stations etc. Winds up in the Northern Territory earning a living from buffalo shooting.
Tom Cole comes from England as a young lad, and works on stations etc. Winds up in the Northern Territory earning a living from buffalo shooting.
September 6, 2013
Great book a friend put me onto it. Loved it
December 29, 2014
4.5 out of 5
May 6, 2021
Australian classic that is sadly not well known. On par with AB Facey's A Fortunate Life
August 30, 2016
My kind of book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews