Inspire Series: Ian Brown, the climbs & times of John Ewbank

In just a few short years in the 1960s the brilliant John Ewbank put up the hardest climbs in Australia, invented a system for grading climbs that we still use today, started a magazine, wrote stories, ethical raves and guidebooks, argued, inspired and offended.

He charged around the climbing landscape like a colossus – then he was gone, to chase a career in folk music.

Ewbank’s historic first ascents in the Blue Mountains, the Warrumbungles and Tasmania were bold and mythic. He was a strong character and a driven individual who left a powerful legacy, but remains an enigma. He died by his own hand in 2013.

Hear about his exploits and contradictions, with amazing anecdotes and photos from the most adventurous era of Australian rock climbing from two climber/authors who have produced a book on the Ewbank story.

In 2014, and in the spirit of Ewbank, Tom Williams and Ian Brown spent a month in a remote Greenland fiord. They travelled by sea kayak and climbed new rock walls big and small - free and ground up with natural protection.

Bios:

Ian Brown OAM lives in the Blue Mountains and has been rock climbing since 1971. He has a fascination with landscape as a bushwalker, mountaineer, rogainer (retired), paddler, ski-tourer, writer, photographer, editor, publisher and environmentalist. Ian has established hundreds of moderate new trad climbs at Kaputar, Point Perpendicular and the Blue Mountains, and in more obscure parts of Australia, New Zealand, Greenland and Borneo. He has climbed extensively in the New Zealand Alps and has enjoyed many long remote bushwalks in Tasmania, Far North Queensland and the mountains of Fiordland.

Bruce Cameron lives in the Blue Mountains and has spent close to 60 years wandering in this fascinating and unique landscape. Climbing since his early teens, he has enjoyed moderate, long new routes, usually ground up with limited bolts, placed on-lead, by hand, completing hundreds of new climbs in NSW, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Bruce has bushwalked in many areas of the Blue Mountains, Tasmania, New Zealand and the Kimberley, trekked in Nepal, and walked and climbed in the UK, the European Alps and New Zealand. Bruce has published two books on Blue Mountains history and environment.

About The Inspire Adventure Series

The Inspire Adventure Series is a regular monthly event aiming to get you inspired by presenters who will be sharing their outdoor adventures through multimedia slide show. Besides watching the presentation and Q&A, there will be a time to connect, chat, exchange ideas, motivate each other – and maybe even to find a partner for your next adventure.

If you have a chance, please bring children and teenagers, we'd love showing them too!

Paddy Pallin is planning to deliver nine sessions in 2026

Paddy Pallin will provide some snacks and drinks for the evening, please bring your own food if you have any dietary requirements. You are also welcome to BYO drinks including liquor.