Not just cases of extreme hunger. Surveys of edible native plants in Australian newspapers 1834 – 1934

May 2024

In April 1834 the Hobart Town Courier published ‘Some Remarks On the Roots and Other Indigenous Esculents of Van Diemen’s Land’. I think I can safely claim this as the first published comprehensive survey of edible native plants in the colonies (which would become Australia), albeit limited to Van Diemen’s Land.  It was one of 11 such articles published in the press between 1834 and 1934.

Why were the surveys written? How did the authors get their knowledge of which plants were edible? What did the surveys say about how to cook with them? Answering these questions forms the first part of this article.

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