In Australian tropics

Extract from Alfred Searcy's manuscript 'In Australian tropics'.

Alfred Searcy was born on 4 January 1854 at Mount Barker, South Australia. He became a journalist with the Advertiser later joining the customs department where he won steady promotion. In 1882 Searcy went to the Northern Territory as sub-collector and to direct new customs arrangements. He enjoyed the outdoor life, relishing the opportunities for adventure in the Territory. The work in Palmerston (Darwin) involved dealing with Chinese and he also organised collecting licence fees from Macassan trepangers on the Arnhem Land coast. On several voyages with the police inspector Paul Foelsche, he had extensive contact with the Macassans. There were also smugglers and a variety of other villains to deal with. In recognition of his work, he was promoted in 1888 and also became a justice of the peace. Within the small European community of Palmerston, he was one of a handful of public servants working to establish an orderly administration over a huge area.

He returned to Adelaide in 1890 for health reasons. In 1896 he succeeded his brother Arthur (1852-1935) as clerk assistant and Serjeant-At-Arms in the South Australian House of Assembly. In 1918 he became Clerk of the House and in 1920 Clerk of the Parliaments. These posts suited his talent for administration and friendly dealing.

His book In Australian tropics is an extended and reworked version of a collection of newspaper articles originally published as In northern seas. The original manuscript includes extracts from his newspaper articles and his customs reports bear the marks of his editing for inclusion. This is Searcy's best book; it is told with vigorous style and great enthusiasm for the north. He favoured its development by non-European labour, preferably Chinese. Two further editions appeared in 1909. By flood and field (Melbourne, 1911), which he was encouraged to write by Mrs Aeneas Gunn, is a less successful, fictional version of the same material. His vivid prose and narrative skill give the books literary and historical value.

Searcy died on 1 October 1925 in Adelaide and was buried in North Road cemetery. Searcy Street in Darwin is named after him.

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