Hesperian Press

Welcome to Hesperian Press

Hesperian Press has been publishing Real Australian Books since 1969 when its principal, Peter Bridge, first published technical material. The current program commenced in 1979 and Hesperian Press has now published well over 700 titles, with up to 20 works in progress at any time.
 

FREE, DISCOUNTED AND NEW BOOKS.

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF SPACE.

Good books which are overstocked must go and will be regularly 

offered on our regular mailing list of new titles.  

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PLEASE NOTE: Any book title starting with "The" - the second word of the title is used to list by.

   All prices quoted are in Australian currency and include GST. * Short trade discount.

   If you are unsure of a title use the search facility on the left hand side of this page.

Geological and mining library for sale.

My library of some 60 years of collecting must be disseminated to the wider world.

I can categorically state that this is the best privately held library in Australia of this material.

Such items will never come on the market again.

It covers many countries from America, north and south, Africa, Europe, Asia, and especially Australia. Much Australian material goes back to the 1850s, while the world wide items go back to the 1890s. Covers all aspects of geology and mineralogy. Much is general. Much is collectable.

With lighting installed in my new shed and raring to go, I am at present unpacking the mountain of cartons which have been stored for several decades.

The extent is too large to list. Perhaps if anyone has a specific interest in a country or subject they can query me. Offers accepted for the bulk collection.

Peter J. Bridge, mineralogist.

FREE BOOKS

When you visit the shop you can choose from the 'free book shelf'. Mail order - we will try to add in a free book if it does not increase the postage.

It is important that we get support for our books from our readers. Hesperian does not get taxpayer funding.

Many millions of dollars have been mis-spent on unreadable novels and plainly irrelevant and obnoxious propaganda.

There is no other publisher like us in Australia concentrating on REAL Australian history and people.

Hesperian books will stand the test of time.

But if we do not get buyer support we may not be around too long after our 50 years anniversary.  

Obituary

Peter Board was a British sailor, born in Devonshire, who joined the Royal Navy at 16 and served on HMS Newcastle and HMS Consort. With his mate Ron Palmer they jumped ship after the Montebello nuclear tests. Peter headed for country WA and after some adventures ended up at Dwellingup. In his book, A Short Walk in Paradise, he describes bush town life and its people and working on the bush railways of the forest area. Eventually the RN found the pair and it was back to swabbing decks. He returned to Australia in 1972 and worked in the Pilbara. Here he took up diving, metal detecting, boating, and expeditions with the WA Museum archaeologists around the islands. He was an agent for my metal detectors in the early 1980s. Retiring from Hamersley Iron in 1987 he married again, after the death of his first wife from cancer and retired to the hills, surrounded by his collections of Nelsonia, (in his Nelson Room), beer mugs and books on a multitude of subjects.

Our condolences to Lou and family.

 COMING SOON 

York. Over the Hills by Rodger Jennings.

ISBN 978-0-85905-712-7, (New, 2020), 160 x 240mm, 360 pages, french flap covers, ... grams, around $65.00*

A detailed history of York in its first 50 years. An important book of the first inland settlement.
 

Into the Arms of Death by Neville Green.

ISBN 978-0-85905-820-9, (New, 2020), A4, 200 plus pages, well illustrated, ... grams, $50.00*

An important and revelationary study of the effects of disease on Westralian Aboriginals that will change the way we perceive their diminution and which places the politicised claims of many mythical massacres squarely into the propaganda (aka bullsh) basket. From the measles of European settlers to leprosy, smallpox and VD from the great Asian disease reservoirs, the effects on native populations were a REAL holocaust.
 

Bill Peasley expedition reports.

Unpublished reports of his expeditions for those involved in desert travel.

The 1999 Carnegie Expedition. ISBN 978-0-85905-805-6, 240 grams, $40.00*

The 1982 Carnegie Expedition. ISBN 978-0-85905-806-3, 320 grams, $45.00*

The Desert Trail. ISBN 978-0-85905-807-0, 280 grams, $30.00*

The Forrest Centenary Expedition. ISBN 978-0-85905-808-7, 150 grams, $30.00*

The Last Desert Journey. ISBN 978-0-85905-809-4, 285 grams, $40.00*

Desert Journey 2000 & Warri & Yatungka. With Maureen Herbert. ISBN 978-0-85905-813-1, 300 grams, $30.00*

The Desert Journey of 2004. ISBN 978-0-85905-811-7, 220 grams, $35.00*

In the Footsteps of David Carnegie. ISBN 978-0-85905-812-4, 400 grams, $45.00*

Bill Cooper's Oil Rig Shift Story.

by Bill Cooper

ISBN 978-0-85905-801-8, (New, 2020), A4, 16 pages, illustrated, $15.00*

Old trucker, Bill Cooper's description of the 1939 transport of an oil rig and associated boilers from Derby to Nerrima. Well illustrated with the trucks, rig, and gear that is still there as a historic relic of early oil exploration.

Hillie's Gift: A memoir of Australia's first rural guide dog owner Hilda Schell.

by Jenny Byatt.

ISBN 978-0-85905-785-1, (New, 2020), A4, 158 pages, illustrated, 450 grams, $50.00* POSTAGE $12.45 Australia wide.

Biographical reminiscences collected by the editor over many years as a memorial to Hilda.

The State and position of Western Australia commonly called The Swan River Settlement

by Captain Frederick Chidley Irwin. With an extensive biographical introduction by Peter Conole.  

ISBN 978-0-85905-780-6, (New, 2019), 240 x 160, French flaps, 168 pages, 300 grams, $40.00*

Hesperian Press takes particular pride in resurrecting this remarkable work from undeserved and disgraceful obscurity. Frederick Irwin’s book, the first large scale study of Western Australia, was published in London in 1835. Our facsimile of that now very rare book is greatly enhanced by inclusion of a 19-page biographical sketch of its author by Peter Conole. This study of an important colonial figure includes material which has eluded the attention of historians and will both dispel various inaccuracies and clarify his career and importance to WA. Irwin’s ‘State and Position’ is very well written and both frank and forthright in tackling controversial issues. In the course of nine chapters and an appendix Irwin provided brilliant word paintings of living and working conditions for settlers. He was always forthright in offering opinions, such as his hatred of convict systems. He also had a fine eye for detail in discussing a range of civic affairs and the future prospects of the colony.       

Australia in the 1940s - Life on the Home Front

by Gary Mentiplay

ISBN 978-0-85905-818-6, (2020 New), Soft Cover, French flaps, 248pp, illustrated, 1kg, $45.00

(Post/Pack within Australia, add $15.00)

Available from the author:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Phone: 0420 448 036

This book is not a military history of Australia's involvement in World War II. The focus of this work is on the "Home-front" with people living day to day with shortages and rationing.

As the war ebbed and flowed, life went on for most people. The joys and hazards of life did not stop, of course, and there were births and weddings, bushfire disasters, floods, droughts, road deaths and injuries, hot summers and cold winters, and for many families, bad news on the fate of loved ones serving in the theatres of war.

A wide range of subjects has been included and cover all states in Australia. There are "War Briefs" and "War News" inserts in the chronological sequence throughout the book – these are included to give a perspective of whatever was occurring on the home-front and in the war at that particular time.

Many of the issues affecting motoring, road and rail transport have not been covered in great detail in the past – issues such as how did the petrol rationing system work, how often did the ration scales change, why didn't petrol rationing cease when the war ended? Why was there an acute rubber shortage from 1942 to 1946 when private motorists could not buy any tyres?

"Australia in the 1940s" will give the post-war generations an insight into what their grand-parents and parents lived through.

Broome and its Tragic Yesterday

by Henrietta Drake Brockman

Broome just after the war and the new Kimberley with the Flying Doctor services. Also a biographical outline of the author.

Caveman’s Glory

by Lex Bastian

ISBN 978-0-85905-814-8, (1958 R 2020), A4, 11 pages, illustrated, 70 grams, $15.00*

The discovery of the Augusta Jewel Cave and an outline of the author’s life.

David Carnegie

by W.C. Charnley.

ISBN 978-0-85905-819-3, (1934 R 2020), A5, 12 pages, 30 grams, $10.00*

Dr William John Peasley, a biography and bibliography

ISBN 978-0-85905-802-5, (2020), A5, 8 pages, $10.00*

The Edneys, A Family of the North

by Peter J. Bridge 

ISBN 978-0-85905-816-2, (2020 New), A5, 17pp, illustrated, 45 grams, $10.00

For well over a century the Edney's of the NW were well-known as residents of Cossack and as horsemen and pastoralists in the Pilbarra. Interesting tales are all that survive of the first three generations. Time goes and blood flows. The NW Edneys are now represented by their aboriginal descendants.

The First Overland Cattle Drove from South Australia to Kalgoorlie.

by EP Halford

ISBN 978-0-85905-790-5, (New, 2020), A4 illustrated, 40 pages, 150 grams, $25.00*

The Halford familiy’s great trek across the Nullarbor to Kalgoorlie where they started Credo Station in 1904. Brilliant photos. 

Goldfields Memoirs of Donald Sandeman McDonald 

by DS McDonald.

ISBN 978-0-85905-792-9, (New, 2020), A4, illustrated, indexed, 88 pages, 290 grams, $35.00*

From the 1890s to the 1960s he recorded N. Coolgardie goldfields life, of both aboriginals and the prospectors. 

The Habits and Customs of the Aborigines of Western Australia

by Salvado, Garrido, Camfield, Armstrong.

ISBN 978-0-85905-799-8, (1873 R 2020), A4, 30 pages, 110 grams, $20.00* 

Forgotten and Interesting material on the SW Aboriginals of WA.     

In the Hands of Providence

by Bill Peasley.

ISBN 978-0-85905-530-7,   (R2020), A4, 246 pages, well illustrated, 700 grams, $50.00*

Bill’s retelling of the story of Carnegie’s desert journey.

John Blockley, Obituary

by Tony Cockbain

ISBN 978-0-85905-788-2, (2019), A5, 6 pages, $10.00*

The Jarrahland Jingler.

The wit and short stories of EG (Dryblower) Murphy.

Ed by Chris Holyday.

ISBN 978-0-85905-796-7, (new, 2020, A4, illustrated, 62 pages, 200 grams, $30.00*

The goldfielder poet who was the core of the Sunday Times for many years.

Mary Lindsay and the Defence of Jurien Bay 1928-1941

by Bob Sheppard 

ISBN 978-0-85905-824-7, (2020 New), A5 Soft Cover, 27pp, illustrated, 60 grams, $10.00

In Book 2 in the Mid-West at War Series, Bob Sheppard explores Mrs Mary Linday's call for the development of Jurien Bay as a naval port as Australia faces emerging aggression from Germany and Japan.

The Massacre at the Golden Mountain.

Ed by Peter J. Bridge.

ISBN 978-0-85905-795-0, (New, 2020), A4, 24 pages, 210 grams, $20.00*

The 1890s goldrush was rocked by the claims of a great massacre on the new frontier. This story details the evidence and the result of the magisterial enquiry.

The Musgrave Ranges

by Alan F. Wilson

The story of two journeys by camel, car and foot, with biographical entries on the author

The Mystery of the San Michelle

by Peter J. Bridge.

ISBN 978-0-85905-773-8, (New, 2020), A4, Illustrated, 40 pages, 140 grams, $25.00*

Details the disappearance of the lugger San Michelle in 1971. The bios of the skipper, Stan Stojanovic and Margaret Maclean give interesting and little known details on the people involved.