EDWARD WILD: ADVOCATE OF SIMPLIFICATION AND AN ORGANISED PROFESSION IN COLONIAL AUSTRALIA

As far as can be established, Edward Wild's book, Bookkeeping by Double Entry Made Easy, was the second book on accounting to be published in Australia. Apart from the presentation of his simplified system of double entry bookkeeping, Wild advocated the establishment of an organised Australian accounting profession in his book. This paper examines the life and career of Wild and describes and analyses the content of his book. The book is placed within the local Victorian context. Possible influences on Wild's writing are examined and the possible influence of Wild on later developments in Australian accounting is addressed.