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The Red Chief
The story of Red Kangaroo, young and mighty aboriginal warrior who saved his tribe from destruction.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1953
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97 people want to read
About the author
Ion L. Idriess
69 books25 followersIon Llewellyn Idriess, who won the Order of the British Empire was a prolific and influential Australian author.He wrote over 50 books between 1927 to 1969. Idriess was able to convey an image of Australia that few of its nationals could recognise but that all of them could love and be proud of. From the pearling ships off the port of Broome, to the mighty Inland of Australia where all of Western Europe could fit several times over, Idriess experienced all of these places and attempted to convey to the reader the wonder and love he felt for his wild country.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 12, 2025
Ion Idriess writes an excellent biography of Aboriginal Gambu Ganuurru, known by his tribe as Red Kangaroo, a youth with clear potential in the Gunn-e-darr tribe, fulfilled by becoming the chief or the tribe at an early age. His ability to think beyond strict traditions, to innovate and bring new military tactics into play set him apart from others. Idriess refers to him as the Red Chief, although that is Idriess's addition, not something recognised in the historical documents.
Idriess tells us in his 'Author's Preface' the tale of how he came into possession of a written history of Red Kangaroo, provided by an elderly man who had become the last of his tribe. This occurred in 1887 when the Red Chief's grave was dug up by the town doctor, who wanted to obtain an Aboriginal skull, and this with the bones were sent to the Australian Museum, but have since been lost. The story was recorded by a man interested in Aboriginal culture and history, and therefore preserved. Idriess tells us that he changed very little, just added some detail to the peripheral characters, based on known cultural norms and behaviours.
As usual, Idriess has created a readable, fast paced narrative, based on fact. At 226 pages it is very manageable, contains a series of black and white photos which give context the locations and examples of people. I was surprised to see a note thanking Frank Hurley for some of the photographs - famed Antarctic explorer and photographer.
I don't intend to share the story of Red Kangaroo, only to say that Idriess reinforces positive aspects of Aboriginal culture in this story, where the Red Chief acts in best interest of his tribe, and while it is a violent and masculine, it is an accurate portrayal of live at the time - the Red Chief died around 1845. The tribe live in the area that is now the town of Gunnedah in north-west New South Wales.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Idriess tells us in his 'Author's Preface' the tale of how he came into possession of a written history of Red Kangaroo, provided by an elderly man who had become the last of his tribe. This occurred in 1887 when the Red Chief's grave was dug up by the town doctor, who wanted to obtain an Aboriginal skull, and this with the bones were sent to the Australian Museum, but have since been lost. The story was recorded by a man interested in Aboriginal culture and history, and therefore preserved. Idriess tells us that he changed very little, just added some detail to the peripheral characters, based on known cultural norms and behaviours.
As usual, Idriess has created a readable, fast paced narrative, based on fact. At 226 pages it is very manageable, contains a series of black and white photos which give context the locations and examples of people. I was surprised to see a note thanking Frank Hurley for some of the photographs - famed Antarctic explorer and photographer.
I don't intend to share the story of Red Kangaroo, only to say that Idriess reinforces positive aspects of Aboriginal culture in this story, where the Red Chief acts in best interest of his tribe, and while it is a violent and masculine, it is an accurate portrayal of live at the time - the Red Chief died around 1845. The tribe live in the area that is now the town of Gunnedah in north-west New South Wales.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
December 27, 2017
I picked this book up from my parents bookshelf on Christmas day. It was a childhood favourite and I wanted to revisit it.
I love that it is "a straight out story from an aboriginal" and as such gives us a glimpse of what life was like in Australia before the white man came.
It is the story of Red Kangaroo, who went on to become The Red Chief. He was a thinker and a visionary. He'd just finished his initiation to become a man when the story begins and already he is thinking deeply about his tribe and its future.
My favourite part of the book is when Red Kangaroo raids an enemy tribe to steal himself a wife. Not romantic in the traditional sense but perfect for who and what he was.
His daring and bravery, the quick thinking and bushmanship, physical agility and stamina and tactical skill in battle all combine to make him a warrior and great leader of his people. He comes up with a long term plan to bring his tribe back from the brink of annihilation and executes it perfectly.
The Stone Age man was a hunter and gatherer and staying alive was dependent on their skill in feeding themselves. But the tribe worked together to support each other. Most of their time was centered around survival from the elements and starvation.
But the threat from other tribes was ever present and was the reason that being a warrior was so prized. They had to fight to defend their homelands and their tribe. This aspect of Stone Age life is something that you don't usually think of when thinking of the hunter and gatherer life.
The attitude of the author and the times he lived in comes through in this book. It was written in a time before political correctness, and at times I had to remind myself to suspend judgment and focus on the facts embedded in this remarkable tale of a remarkable man.
Australia's own legend. Highly recommended.
I love that it is "a straight out story from an aboriginal" and as such gives us a glimpse of what life was like in Australia before the white man came.
It is the story of Red Kangaroo, who went on to become The Red Chief. He was a thinker and a visionary. He'd just finished his initiation to become a man when the story begins and already he is thinking deeply about his tribe and its future.
My favourite part of the book is when Red Kangaroo raids an enemy tribe to steal himself a wife. Not romantic in the traditional sense but perfect for who and what he was.
His daring and bravery, the quick thinking and bushmanship, physical agility and stamina and tactical skill in battle all combine to make him a warrior and great leader of his people. He comes up with a long term plan to bring his tribe back from the brink of annihilation and executes it perfectly.
The Stone Age man was a hunter and gatherer and staying alive was dependent on their skill in feeding themselves. But the tribe worked together to support each other. Most of their time was centered around survival from the elements and starvation.
But the threat from other tribes was ever present and was the reason that being a warrior was so prized. They had to fight to defend their homelands and their tribe. This aspect of Stone Age life is something that you don't usually think of when thinking of the hunter and gatherer life.
The attitude of the author and the times he lived in comes through in this book. It was written in a time before political correctness, and at times I had to remind myself to suspend judgment and focus on the facts embedded in this remarkable tale of a remarkable man.
Australia's own legend. Highly recommended.
October 28, 2025
A remarkable adaptation of the J. P. Ewing / Joe Bungaree documents that tell the story of an Aboriginal leader who united the Gamilaraay people in the 18th century. The story details the life of Aboriginal people pre-European settlement in the Gunnedah area. It is a remarkably detailed and positive story, all the more so for being written in 1953 when Australians were deep in denial about the Aboriginal people and their long, rich history. I really liked the descriptions of family life and the 'heroic' rise of Red Kangaroo to his leadership role. I didn't like the references to "stone age people" and some of the other language used, but it was reflective of the perspectives at the time the book was published. I highly recommend this book, despite some of its dated language and style, as an engrossing, inspiring and informative read.
September 2, 2025
I struggled to decide if I should read (listen) to this novel since it is written by a white Australian man about a First Nations warrior. Since it was written in 1953 and based on the tales of Bungaree, I decided to give it a go. The first few chapters were disturbing but an appropriate introduction of the way of the colonialists. The writing style takes a bit to get used to, but after a few chapters I’d adapted and could not get enough of the incredible telling of the story of a young warrior called Red Kangaroo and how he becomes the Red Chief. There is military strategy discussed, but lots of common sense too. The sense of humour interspersed through our is enjoyable and well written too. Thanks to the narrator, James Condon, who did an excellent job.
November 28, 2017
great book. Bought it on my tour of WA in Darwin. I really wanted to get some history and hear what aboriginal life was like. This book was recommended to me by a women at met at one of our camps. So glad I ran into her. Now just need to see if I can find any more of Ion Idriess books in the States.
January 15, 2024
It took me a while to get into this story but was absolutely worth the perseverance. An amazing story of the Gunnedah chief Red Kangaroo from the late 1600’s-early 1700’s with some thrilling adventures, battles and insight into Aboriginal tribal life. Highly recommend.
August 6, 2020
Great insight into aboriginal life before becoming a colony.
June 27, 2023
Interesting read about aboriginal tribal culture. Based around Gunnedah, NSW.
May 27, 2023
The Red Chief is thought to have died around 1745. There are not many (if any) such detailed or accessible Indigenous histories of the period before European settlement. It has long baffled me that this important Australian transcription of an oral history is relatively unknown.
This, my second reading of this gripping story was prompted by the engrossing Rachel: Brumby hunter, medicine woman, bushrangers' ally and troublemaker for good . . . the remarkable pioneering life of Rachel Kennedy, another historical dimension to the Warrumbungles where I live that included Mary Jane Cain. It is the story of how The Red Chief or Gambu Ganuurru became a chief of the Gamilaraay, of his journey into the Warrumbungles to steal women, his inventive and strategic brilliance, as well as a compelling insight into daily Indigenous life pre-European settlement.
Ion Idriess wrote from the perspective of the times before the Gamilaraay culturally reconstructed, so there are cringeworthy comments about Stone Age Man. Nevertheless, his adaption of the Ewing Papers is accurate enough to be both true to the original and full of page turning tension.
As described in Idriess's Introduction, the Ewing Papers refer to the source of the story as told by Old Joe Bungaree, a local Aboriginal elder. Police Sergeant J. P. (John Peter) Ewing and his youngest son Stanley wrote the notes, or a first recension, in about 1890. Some of the stories were taken down directly by the Sergeant as Joe Bungaree related them, others came from notes made by the Sergeant but afterwards transcribed by Stanley. Stanley drew on his memories, as a boy aged nine, when the chief’s grave was dug up.
The Ewing Papers have their own story. Back in 1975 I just missed seeing them when their custodian had died days before I arrived in Gunnedah. They are now available on-line but are only accessible inside a rabbit hole of intriguing research.
This, my second reading of this gripping story was prompted by the engrossing Rachel: Brumby hunter, medicine woman, bushrangers' ally and troublemaker for good . . . the remarkable pioneering life of Rachel Kennedy, another historical dimension to the Warrumbungles where I live that included Mary Jane Cain. It is the story of how The Red Chief or Gambu Ganuurru became a chief of the Gamilaraay, of his journey into the Warrumbungles to steal women, his inventive and strategic brilliance, as well as a compelling insight into daily Indigenous life pre-European settlement.
Ion Idriess wrote from the perspective of the times before the Gamilaraay culturally reconstructed, so there are cringeworthy comments about Stone Age Man. Nevertheless, his adaption of the Ewing Papers is accurate enough to be both true to the original and full of page turning tension.
As described in Idriess's Introduction, the Ewing Papers refer to the source of the story as told by Old Joe Bungaree, a local Aboriginal elder. Police Sergeant J. P. (John Peter) Ewing and his youngest son Stanley wrote the notes, or a first recension, in about 1890. Some of the stories were taken down directly by the Sergeant as Joe Bungaree related them, others came from notes made by the Sergeant but afterwards transcribed by Stanley. Stanley drew on his memories, as a boy aged nine, when the chief’s grave was dug up.
The Ewing Papers have their own story. Back in 1975 I just missed seeing them when their custodian had died days before I arrived in Gunnedah. They are now available on-line but are only accessible inside a rabbit hole of intriguing research.
November 6, 2014
Ion Idriess' books were loved by my father and his library contained a large collection of them which I am slowly working through. The Red Chief is apparently based on history passed down by Aborigines in the Gunnedah region and the book is respectful of Aboriginal traditions and lifestyle before the coming of the European. It was a best seller in Australia when it was published in 1953. Idriess' introduction which describes how the chief's bones were dug up by a collector and sent to the Australian museum along with the totem tree which marked his burial site made me flinch, and there were a few times when I felt the author wasn't letting anthropology get in the way of a good story, but he does a good job in writing a credible adventure that leaves you yearning for a simple outdoor life in the pristine bush of the Liverpool Plains.
January 18, 2017
What a delightful discovery! This author was popular in 1950s Australia and wrote prolifically but always (I think) non fiction. The author worked and travelled the wide expanse of Australia in the early 1900s. It is very possible that my grandfather may have run into him at some stage as he worked as a drover and labourer in the days when the world was very wide.
This story is of a particular aboriginal hero whose story covers all aspects of human life, love and loss, politics, war and peace, petty jealousies, wisdom and follies. It is set around Gunnedah in NSW.
This story is of a particular aboriginal hero whose story covers all aspects of human life, love and loss, politics, war and peace, petty jealousies, wisdom and follies. It is set around Gunnedah in NSW.
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July 25, 2014(Read during High School)
December 22, 2013
Really enjoyed reading about the Red Chief and his tribe, interesting learning about this Aboriginal tribe from around the 1700s
January 27, 2022
Dated of course. Fascinating insight into the world of Australian aboriginal people and lifestyle.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews