NOTE ON MEASUREMENTS AND CURRENCIES

Distances and altitudes in the narrative have been expressed, where practicable, in (rounded) metric units; but in quotations from other works, the original units have been retained.

Metric equivalents

1 inch=25 millimetres

1 foot=30 centimetres

1 yard=0.914 metre

1 mile=1.6 kilometres

1 pound=0.45 kilograms

1 long (UK) ton=1.016 tonnes

1 short (US) ton=0.907 tonne

1 acre=0.4 hectare

Whereas the mining industry deals in US dollars, all currencies here are given in Australian dollars unless otherwise stated.