On 30 November 1983, the Douglas Shire Council commenced work on a road from Cape Tribulation to Bloomfield in far north Queensland. The road was set to go through the recently declared Cape Tribulation National Park and some of the last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in the country.

A small group of local residents organised a protest to stop work on the road. The media arrived, the police were called in, and when supporters of the protest arrived from southern states, the confrontation escalated into a full-blown environmental protest: the ‘Daintree blockade’.

The blockade set off a clash of ideologies: greenies against developers, hippies against the local council, and anarchists against police. In time, the Daintree blockade would take its place as one of the big three of Australia’s early rainforest campaigns (along with Terania Creek and the Franklin River) that helped shape the growing Australian environment movement.

Bill Wilkie takes readers into the heart of the Daintree — the oldest rainforest on the planet — revealing the courage, passion and dedication of those who fought to protect it.

‘The book is a richly illustrated, beautifully produced and immensely readable account of the politics and practice of environmental activism. Wilkie makes the story accessible – not a history text, but a riveting narrative and a photo essay of the protests.

There are stunning and rare images plus many other documents and ephemera of the campaign, which add a vibrant and often humorous touch to the story.

This action packed account contrasts the dogged determination and audacity of the protest groups with the ambitions of the developers, the local Council, and State Government, backed by strong police presence.

With a rich underlay of the history, geography and ecology of the Daintree, the book evokes the unique sense of place that is North Queensland’s tropical rainforests, and shows how the protestors lost the battle but inspired the successful World Heritage status listing for the region in 1988.’

Highlights of the book include:

• A Foreword by Australian actor Jack Thompson;


• Stunning page layouts by Punchbowl Design;


• The 23cm by 18cm layout allows use of the over 250 photos to make The Daintree Blockade a visual journey, as well as a comprehensively researched and concisely written work of narrative nonfiction;


• The use of many previously untapped resources, including photos and diaries from private collections, and over 80 interviews;


• Personal accounts and anecdotes of those who were on the frontline;


• Tells the previously untold story of the Daintree blockade, one of the most influential environment protests in Australian history, and set during Queensland’s tumultuous Bjelke-Petersen years.

'The Daintree Blockade' is available for purchase for $39.95 AUD + 9.95 for postage anywhere in Australia (overseas buyers please email the author for shipping rates).

Please visit the website for 'The Daintree Blockade' where I have a brief history of the protest, historical photos and extracts from the book.