On this Ground: Best Australian Nature Writing

by Dave Witty (Editor)

Many of us gain inspiration, solace, beauty and a sense of wonder from our interactions with nature, and writers have long plumbed and explored these depths.At the same time as many of us tune in to natural landscapes, our environment is imperilled as never before. We are in the midst of a climate emergency that is challenging the future of our species, and all living creatures we share the earth with.This unique collection of Australia’s best new nature writing gathers together some of our most widely known and most original voices to reflect on our relationship with nature. These pieces, by turns compelling, urgent, poignant and passionate, offer an insight into the wonder of the natural world around us, and form a clarion call for its protection.With an introduction from Dave Witty, and featuring contributors including Tim Winton, Inga Simpson and Louise Omer, this collection makes the perfect holiday read or gift for the nature-lover in your life.Contributors: Anthony Ham, Bastian Fox Phelan, Ben Walter, Bruce Pascoe, Coen Hird, Connor Tomas O’Brien, Dave Witty, David Ritter, Deborah Wardle, Debra Dank, Drew Rooke, Gregory Day, Inga Simpson, James Bradley, James Valentine, Joëlle Gergis, Kim Mahood, Lilian Pearce, Lily Chan, Louise Omer, Mark Tredinnick, Marlene Jo Baquiran, Melanie Saward, Tim Winton

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment

336 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2025

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of writing, with a range of writers conjuring up the slower, quieter, more sensory experience that being in a less artificial environment can bring. There are some spectacular pieces here. Some of these, like Lily Chan's The Golden Age, Lilian Pearce's Contaminated Kinship and Joelle Gergis and Tim Winton's only-slightly-curmudgeonly contributions, were new to me. Others, including entries from Debra Dank and James Bradley's breathtaking books and Valentine's truly terrifying Twitching, were not. But there was significant pleasure in rereading, given the transportive nature of the prose.
The collection did make me start to wonder if there is too much serenity in the way we write nature, that we read into this something of a pace set by Thoreau or our own expectations of calm, lush description and longer, rhythmic sentences. Gergis is an exception here, writing with pace and urgency, in a way that integrates her relationship with the environment with every aspect of her life. While many others dealt with social entwined issues, the writing felt slower. It is hard to fault this, however, when so little in our contemporary lives allows us space to breathe.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not all of the stories were my cup of tea but many of them have tipped my brain upside down and given it a good shake 🙂

[Hannah St John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this collection from start to finish. So much to think about and digest amongst beautiful writing and I know I’ll be processing some of these stories for weeks to come. I will be forcing my friends and colleagues to read many of them as well - I’ve already made my family read of the apocalyptic brush chickens.

[Patricia Massarotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi,

Oh my gosh, where do I start:

When I first began reading this collection of short stories from well known Australian Nature Writers & their respected linked writtings, I was curious. Talk about "telling like it is," here.

Like: What particular kind of stories are exactly is: "On this Ground"? Then I noticed the crow's, I think, black and red spotted feather. Then I instantaneously clued into what I had just seen. I knew what the library book being held in my hands is all about. Intruge, Nature, Care, Planet Earth, the benefits of a rightful treatment of gardens, history behind them, and for goodness sakes, um Sir David Attenborough views. A summary, outline, or review of Australia's Best known Writer's, like: Bruce Pascoe, Tim Winton & Debra Danks.

I love it when they say: "It will draw you into their story."

So I had a look. Within four or five weeks and reading it properly, I certainly came across a few Australian writter that I had both recognised and heard allot about before. There were other's in the published list, but these 5 witty writers choosen have really stood out for me. (1) Bruce Pascoe, (2) Tim Winton, (3) Debra Danks, (4) James Bradley, (5) James Valentine, (6) Kim Mahood, (7) Ben Walter & maybe (8) Lilian Pearce, and (9) Emily Mowat. Only to just name a few. I have heard about them throughout growing up in my recent life. Wonderful.

Anecdotally it seems,
As I continue through the read, I found my younger Candian self (or child, if you like), enjoying the exploratory journey throughly. Even as an adult now, my past Australian self sees in this book such immense focused clarity. A person who loves storytelling allot - I'm now glad Dave Witty edited it. I even had those strange highlights jumping out at me as I perused it. In terms of learning through a know literal given comparison. Lucky I can read fast. Such question came about, like why is climate change described as "A Season of Change", by: Joëlle Gergis. [*Pages 280-294] A good & nice quality outline. Inquiry here, Is it another viewpoint or the writer's perspective? Is it the same concept &/or method as to the one we all learn in the high school science classes of late? What about at a higher skilled level of learning, say at university or college, (depending on where you are on planet earth. 😉)

Ah, then I turned the book over - Monash University Publishing. There we go and get it. I see totally.

So a day later, I eagerly then return to Dave Witty's edited book. Plots are of a good quality. He organised it very well and with proper prose and good technique. I actually find these kind of environmental orientated books curious, as I said earlier, observable. I additionally, heared via news communications, I endeavoured to keep going on into the book of his.

At first glance, it looked like a bit of a competition from a Writer's Festival. Okay Cool. Good thing I'm curious about it all anyhow. Um, abit complex at first, I be honest - read to quickly - i'll become a muddle. However, I persisted: Helloe clarity, conciseness & flow.

Say, by my own read observations is by this, "How a calm weekend walk or hike through the earth's forests, or by time slot adventures recalled - along a beautiful beach can simply, but yet rather interconnectively change or minds gradually." In short - "A nice walk changes how we feel, think and relax, today about earth." We grow and develop humanely in it.

By reading this book, I also learned that our world really is not "in peril", or danger, but we all still can keep
protecting it. Plus, if it doesn't like how we have treated our external world it in the past, mother nature will tell us, in a strange way, I just might add here by recalling a past news report. Like those, eekk, Black Summer Bush Fires. Those online social media records of - reselient and caring Aussies rescues of our treasured wildlife Koalas. Prevention. Yesh!

Our own hot, warm, cold, temperate, Arid, tropical, or subtropical conditions, which we all do live in amongst, our habitats are important. A truly facinating overview had been discovered for me to know more about. It drew me in carefully and gently, and with honest respect - they must have meet together first right? This is obviously okay & good by my own complete understanding gathered kept over these paat few experimental years done carefully in mind.

I empathise with them all. The are great and beautiful stories told, journey that we all can now and do explore. I feel both grateful and relieved that I'm so earth bound.
There are allot of places I would still like to explore with friends and family. There are lighten up memories from my younger days growing up in Qld that I still hold dear to my heart and personality. Reflects back to real life.

I'm so inspired by finishing this borrowed local council library book, like build your own backyard garden and scape your yards accordingly to training or thoughtfully considered outside layouts. Plant seeds, ride to work, don't polutr the shorelines with overspilled rubbish, & burn them safely and properly. Meet Sir David at some point - a -chance invited universal meeting with Sir David Attenborough - yes he was mentioned inside the book, too. Gawd - he's now 100 years old. I admire him allot.

Swim with dolphins. Recycle, Reuse earth conscious materials produced. Do what is sensible and important. Visit a Zoo. Carpool. Chillout. Be consistent.

Anyhow, in the last chapter of: "On This Ground: Best Australian Nature Writers"; edited by Dave Witty, somehow I zoned in on it, intially, I found Tim Winton's extracted story - abit all over the place, but his written plot was there. I like it - it flowed like a stream of clean fresh river water.

In my notes I mention italicised phrases, poetry quotes, and environmental orientated one-liners seen and referenced accordingly, but somehow it doesn't fit here. So just seek and find me out & am I happy enough to share these points out with you; because they were of particular interest to me. Being a paid brushcare supporter and worker.

In conclusion of this cool book, I estimate a regular calendar set timeline. It is a truly kind relief for me - I wonder what the difference is and measureable similarity this editor did in the intial planning approach of it. For me alone am going to conclude this GoodRead by sourcing a tea moment and recall from a recorded past rented book from the local Cockburn City Council Library building, I paced my comprehension reading is better and is faster is indeed throughout the book, as I think back to what I automatically organised reflect back to an earlier book that I read

Our honest own floral and fauna are tough but beautifully sharply encoded and experienced.

Yall treasure it, care for it, save it, or our planet will respond back to us in way we don't expect or want it too. Respect. Ah, if you benefit from nature and the world, venture beyond nieghbourhoods, suburbs & even city limits -just like I have been - curiousity and adventure appeals would lead no bounds. Walk on those trails, put animals back after healing is done, were they were discovered, carefully.

Phew, in my final, tired yet smart remarks: l have found via my past online library studies & kept records - a novel book known as: "The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place in Nature"; by: David Suzuki: (1936-), a 2022 release & a very useful supporting read.

[^Both books = 5/5* rating. Including 5 handwritten notes.]

Enjoy!

[Rozanna Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to enjoy, and to learn from, in this diverse collection of recent Australian nature writing. Sometimes the contributions surprise. Lily Chan's account of how her Japanese parents ended up in rural Western Australia as ashram members conjures a heady, shabby world of red clay cultism. Ben Walter's nicely titled 'Outside, Mona Lisa' offers insight into the value of pedestrianism, of climbing nondescript mountains that are a gap in a personal map. Enjoyment of the ordinary, of 'scraggy bushes and patches of scree', lies at the heart of his vexed quest to walk off the beaten track. Inga Simpson provides a note of hope as she chronicles her rewilding of 'up the back', her childhood haunt on her parents' farm in central west NSW. Her love of landscape is linked to her love of photography as she recaptures childhood joy. In 'Contaminated Kinship', Lilian Pearce powerfully contrasts the ancient ecology of Australia with the speed of settler violence, focusing in on the poisonous legacy of lead mining in Broken Hill. In doing so, she draws a clear connection between social inequality and exposure to toxins, with residents left only hollow laughter about being 'lead-heads'. Kim Mahood writes about how her connections with local Aboriginal people shaped her childhood, the grief of losing a beloved dog, the ongoing connection to ancient footprints preserved in claypan. These seemingly disparate scenes are tied together by implicit questions of permanence and impermanence, of the ephemerality and resilience of each life. Emily Mowat takes us to Macquarie Island where she is a field biologist. Giant petrels and bull elephants, furious winds and rotting kelp are her daily fare. A drifting iceberg is a stark reminder of the perils of climate warming. This is a theme taken up in many contributions, including James Bradley's 'Beaches'. Sea levels in the Torres Strait Islands are rising at twice the global average. As the bones of ancestors are washed away by incoming tides, Bradley outlines the existential threat posed to all Pacific Islanders. With two dozen essays to choose from, readers will warm to different contributions. Many are filled with a sense of dire urgency; all are worthwhile.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated reading this anthology (published 2024) collecting together the best Australian nature writing of the prior two years.

Literature up until the relatively recent invent of the cli-fi genre, has stayed relatively silent on the climate crisis, and nature writing in its most traditional sense has often revolved around the aesthetic and descriptive, with detail-oriented observations offering an almost meditative solace to those perhaps disconnected from the natural world. The kind of nature writing in this anthology by comparison is far more aware of the human impacts upon the future of the natural world and the pervasive anxiety that accompanies that, and considers political, First Nations cultural, and ecological angles in a more essayistic fashion.

It examines if we even should, as settler-colonists, and if so how, write of this country when its First Peoples know it so much more intimately, and within its pages shows that finally perhaps we are making space for Blak voices in publication. But it also considers how inherently Western and ‘white’ the field of science is, even when it now invites racially diverse and indigenous input. We have also separated science from spirituality, and therefore how exclusionary is science to indigenous perspective when indigenous connection to the natural world and understanding and preservation of Country is also fundamentally spiritual.

It touches on relatively recent ways of engaging with the natural world, facilitated by the internet, like citizen science, both its place within science and its value as a conduit with which to connect the everyday person to the natural world in a more immediate way, facilitating people caring about what happens. It also examines things like shifting baselines, the idea that each new generation is accepting more and more species decline simply because for them in their lifetime that is all they have known and thus they consider it normal.

I found this collection of nature writing to provide a current and nuanced discourse on the state of the natural world within this country and also in relation to the present global trajectory.

[Ann Göth · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I found this a deeply rewarding collection and enjoyed it from beginning to end. There is plenty here to linger over, and several of the pieces have stayed with me long after reading them. I’ve already found myself wanting to recommend particular essays to friends and colleagues.

The collection brings together a diverse group of writers reflecting on what it means to spend time in, and connect with, the natural world. Many of the pieces capture a slower and more attentive way of experiencing our surroundings, with writing that is rich in sensory detail and observation.

There were several authors I encountered for the first time, while other contributions came from writers whose work I already knew and admired. Revisiting familiar pieces was no less enjoyable: the writing has such an ability to transport the reader that even stories I knew still offered something new.

One thing the collection made me consider, though, is our tendency to associate nature writing with tranquillity. Perhaps we have inherited a particular literary tradition in which encounters with nature are expected to be peaceful, contemplative and beautifully slow. But some pieces bring greater urgency and momentum to science writing and show how deeply environmental concerns can permeate everyday life.

That said, it is difficult to object to the collection's quieter pace. In a world that rarely gives us permission to stop, pay attention and simply breathe, there is something valuable about writing that creates precisely that space.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute treasure trove of exceptional writing. The chapters are as diverse as our unique Australian landscapes, flora and fauna. And urgent; these essays stay in your mind long after you have read them, immediately re read them and dwell on them during your morning walk. From Bruce Pascoe's blistering narrative about an endangered orchid, Joëlle Gergis sharing her intimate insight as a global climate change scientist, Inga Simpson taking us on an emotive journey up the back to her country and Mark Tredinnick impelling us all to reconnect to country, just to name a few. A collection of our finest Australian writers waxing lyrical and justifiably ranting on a topic close to my heart, our natural history.
My favourite passage goes to Tim Winton describing 'the amorphous church of postmodernism' as like a sea anemone, "a festival of dancing segments and tentacles, advertising its complex glories to the ecosystem. But at the first approach of a stranger, it withdraws all appendages and retreats behind its own sphincter." Just brilliant writing in every essay that makes for an unforgettable read.

[Kloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read all year, and deeply moving.