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Billabong Series:
Primarily an adventure/mystery series set mainly on a ranch, rather than a pony series. In some books ponies appear more than others, rather like the Punchbowl and Romney Marsh books by Monica Edwards. However I have listed the whole series here.
The series follows the Linton family through a number of years with the heroine Norah growing from a 12 year old girl to a woman with a child of her own. Adult and child characters interact throughout the series, making it readable to all ages. Although mainly set on the Australian cattle ranch, the series makes forays into England and Ireland. It includes some topical references of the time, mainly from the First World War, as the characters get involved with the conflict and its aftermath.
1) A LITTLE BUSH MAID
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1910)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson and others.
Published in Australia, the UK and the USA.
In print.
SUMMARY: Introduces the Linton family with our heroine 12 year old Norah, father Mr. Linton, brother Jim and his friend Wally and their adventures on their Australian cattle station.
PONYMAD RATING: 2-3 HORSESHOES
Read/join in with a discussion of the book in our reading circle
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2) MATES AT BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1911)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson and others.
Published in Australia, the UK and the USA.
In print.
SUMMARY: Norah, Jim and Wally must put up with the presence of annoying and supercilious cousin Cecil.
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3) NORAH OF BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1913)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson and others.
Published in Australia, the UK and the USA.
Available as a print-on-demand edition.
SUMMARY: Norah and her friend return to Billabong after being cooped up in boarding school and the fun and adventures which can always be found there are soon to ensue!
4) FROM BILLABONG TO LONDON
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1914)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Jim finds his activities on the station cut short as war breaks out and he and Wally determine to travel to Britain to enlist (as Australians were still British citizens at that time).
The family have many adventures on board ship before they reach London.
5) JIM AND WALLY
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1916)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Set in England and Ireland. When the pair have been invalided out of the war for the time being due to being gassed they set off with Norah and Mr. Linton to Ireland. There more adventures ensue.
6) CAPTAIN JIM
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1919)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson and others.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia and USA.
In print.
SUMMARY: Set once more in England where Nora has been left an estate by a relative and determines to turn it into a rest home for those wounded by the war.
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7) BACK TO BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1921)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson, and others.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia and USA.
SUMMARY: The Lintons return to Australia in the company of two new friends Cecilia and Bob. But once back home their happy life is marred by a bush fire.
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8) BILLABONG'S DAUGHTER
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1924)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Lots of adventures for the family including runaway horse and buggies, cattle rustlers, an escaped criminal and a rampaging bull! As a result of one of these adventures Wally is critically hurt.
9) BILLABONG ADVENTURERS
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1927)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Nora and Wally get married and set off on their honeymoon camping in the bush - only to find more adventure involving a treasure map and a missing child. They recruit Jim to help them solve the mystery.
10) BILL OF BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1931)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Jim, Nora and Wally rehabilitate a horrid little brat called Bill who is staying at Billybong and turn him into a good 'mate' by teaching him to ride and about the bush and animals they all love. But then the little lad goes missing...
11) BILLABONGS LUCK
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1933)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Bob and Tommy who live on a neighbouring property are not doing well and have financial problems. But the Billabong gang then make a discovery that could solve the dilemma.
12) WINGS ABOVE BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1935)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: The secret gold mine at Billiabong is closely guarded by the Lintons and their frrends. But the secret still leaks out. A pair of sheep shearers, on the track of the gold kidnap young Bill when he gets in their way and steal a plane to make their getaway.
13) BILLABONG GOLD
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1937)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: Problems arise now the secret of the gold is out and a 'gold rush' hits the place. Eager prospectors start to cause trouble and it is up to the Billabong gang and the two young newcomers Dick and Betty to thwart the plans of the mercenary McGill.
14) SON OF BILLABONG
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1939)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: On a family holiday by the sea, 3 year old Davie, son of Nora and Wally disappears. The secret of his disappearance is revealed to have been connected to the family's previous dealings with the crooked McGill.
15) BILLABONG RIDERS
(WARD, LOCK & CO. 1942)
Reprinted in hardback.
Reprinted in paperback by Angus & Robertson.
Reprinted in the UK and Australia.
SUMMARY: More adventure and mayhem as the friends set out on a cattle muster, including a crazed bull, a storm and crooked drovers trying to steal the Linton stock.
Other Editions:
A LITTLE BUSH MAID & MATES AT BILLABONG: OMNIBUS EDITION
(JOHN FERGUSON [AUSTRALIA] 1981)
Reprinted in hardback in 1982.
SUMMARY: Omnibus edition containing the first two books in the series.
Collector's Info:
I have tried to add as much publishing information as I can but may have missed out some editions. The books were first published by Ward, Lock & Co. in the UK and Australia and reprinted in hardback by that publisher a few times. Most were reprinted by Angus & Roberston in paperback in Australia. As far as I know these paperback reprints were all revised editions.
Some titles were also published in the USA in paperback. A few are still in print and available new, although one or two are print-on-demand titles. None of the books are very hard to find second-hand in Australia or the UK. Some titles are a little harder to find than others, including Son of Billabong, Billabong Riders and the first editions and early reprints may be quite expensive.
A few of the titles can be found on the internet to read on-line for free or to download as e-books (see links).
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