The name of Rosendo Salvado (1814-1900) has long been a synonym for Catholic missionary activity among the Aboriginal peoples of Western Australia in the second half of the nineteenth century. However, the Benedictine cleric's romantic future for the original inhabitants of the Victoria Plains, as a largely self-sufficient population of farmers and tradesmen, was doomed to disappointment. Likewise, his plan to establish a monastery whose Spanish monks would minister to their spiritual needs.

Salvado's final action in relation to New Norcia was to choose as his successor, Dom Fulgentius Torres (1861-1914).

In this ground breaking work Geoffrey Coad, retired lawyer, has provided for us a new and fascinating perspective on Torres' achievements, notably the new mission on the Drysdale River in the far north of the state.

He also describes Torres' monumental creation of the two secondary colleges of Saint Gertrude and Saint Ildephonsus. This work is a welcome addition to the historiography of the Church in Western Australia and of its founding fathers.