'Bill Baillie His Life and Adventures', published in 1908, was one of the earliest books to accurately depict the distinctive beauty of the West Australian bush. The children's book is about the adventures of Ellis Rowan's own beloved pet Bilboa (also known as the Bilby, the Dalgyte or the Rabbit-Eared Bandicoot (Macrotis lagotis)). Named Bill Baillie by Ellis Rowan, he was given to the artist in 1906 by a local handyman after he was rescued from his mother's pouch, during her third visit to Western Australia.

Bill's story takes place in a variety of locations including the Goldfields area of Western Australia, which is where Ellis Rowan was given Bill Baillie in Goongarrie. The book was reprinted in 1948 as 'Bill Baillie: The Story of a Pet Bilboa'.

References:
Morton-Evans, C. and Morton-Evans, M., 'Bill Baillie finds a home' in Morton-Evans, C. and Morton-Evans, M., The Flower Hunter The remarkable life of Ellis Rowan, (Canberra, 2008), 223 - 233.
Rowan, E. The Flower Hunter (Canberra, 2002).
State Library of Western Australia, Write, Rite, Right, http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/guides/childrens_literature/past_exhibitions/write,_rite,_right, accessed on 24/08/2010.
The Marsupial Society of Australia, Bilby (or Dalgyte), http://www.marsupialsociety.org/bilby.html, accessed on 26/08/2010.

Clare Plascow, volunteer (with Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator), September 2010.

Eight colour illustrations by Rowan and numerous black and white drawings by Jack Sommers.

Marian Ellis Rowan (1848-1922)

Ref:
Marian Ellis Rowan biography:
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rowan-marian-ellis-8282

'Bill Baillie: his life and adventures' was first published in 1908. It was subsequently reprinted in 1948 as 'Bill Baillie: The Story of a Pet Bilboa'.

Book, 'Bill Baillie: his life and adventures', paper, written by Ellis Rowan, illustrations by Ellis Rowan and Jack Sommers, published by Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, c. 1908

Book by Ellis Rowan titled 'Bill Baillie: his life and adventures'. The book is bound in a grey hardcover and comprises 159 pages. The book contains 16 chapters with eight colour illustrations and numerous black and white drawings. The cover features the title 'Bill Baillie', the author's name and a silhouette of a Bilby (or Macrotis lagotis) in an Australian desert setting, sitting on its hind quarters with its body in profile and its head facing straight on, before a yellow moon.

Authored: Rowan, Marian Ellis; Australia; 1903 - 1913

Artist: Rowan, Marian Ellis; Australia; 1903 - 1913

Artist: Sommers, Jack; Australia; 1903 - 1913

Published: Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd; Australia; 1903 - 1913

Printed: The Specialty Press Ltd; Melbourne, Victoria; 1903 - 1913

Handwritten on lower spine in white ink, 'A' and beneath this, stamped in gold, '823.91A / ROW'.
Stamped in black ink on bottom right corner of several pages throughout the book, 'UNIV.SYD. / BIBLIOTHECA'.
Handwritten in pencil on upper centre of inside front cover '823.91A / ROW'.
Handwritten in pencil on upper right corner of title page '6/- / $150'.

2010/80/1

1903 - 1913

183 mm

255 mm

21 mm