Hesperian Press

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.

Gift of $10,000 worth of Hesperian titles to the WA prison system.

We have given some 15 copies each of 24 titles that are still current books but of which we are overstocked. We need the space. Hopefully some of the prisoners will appreciate good books as a relief from the mind rotting TV. We even gave an extra set for the staff so they do not have to pinch the prisoner’s copies.

Free books this month.

Starting February 1. For any retail purchase you may have one free book from this month’s list.

That is you can have a free book for each book you buy. The downside is that you pay the postage.

This month’s free books :- Misfortunes of Phoebe, Golden Land of Silence, All Australians now, Borneo Surgeon, The Thousand Hours, The Growing Up, Thermo-electrical Cooking.

Book details on our booklist.

Honours.

Our author Phil Bianchi has received an OAM in the Australia Day Honours List for his work on community history. Phil is a prolific compiler of bush history including on the woodlines and the Canning Stock Route. His new masterpiece on the Woodlines is now at the printer and will be launched this month. (February).
 

Coming soon.

The new volume of the Exploration Diaries leading to the goldfields, a history of dressage in WA, and the full story of the recovery of the wreck of the Gilt Dragon treasure ship.

It is important that we get support for our books from our readers. Hesperian does not get taxpayer funding like Fremantle, Magabala and University. I can confidently state that several of these would collapse within days of having their grants removed. Which would be a very good thing. 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 forthcoming 50 years anniversary.  

Okinawans Reaching Australia

by John Lamb.

ISBN 978-0-85905-747-9, (New, 2019), A4, 142 pp, heavily illustrated, indexed, 400 grams, $40.00* + POST

This publication fills a large gap in research into aspects of the pearl-shell fishing industry and Japanese immigration to Australia in general. Through careful research, and with over 200 photographs, John provides a comprehensive record of all Okinawans known to have ever reached Australia up until the early 1960s. He fleshes out how and why Okinawans came to be chosen over mainland Japanese in the post-war period and challenges some of the misconceptions that have arisen around their role and performance. Through identifying the stories of many individuals, including some who spent most of their working lives in Australia, he brings to life this little-known history of northern Australia. In detailing the deaths of some forty men and a half dozen births, he creates a very detailed picture of their circumstances and creates a valuable record for their families and descendants, as well as for those interested to understand more about indentured Asian labour during the time of restricted immigration.

We have only published a small run of this book, so please be early if you are interested. 

To the Golden Land. Exploration to the Eastwards 1869-1896

by Peter J. Bridge and associates. With an Introduction by J.M.R Cameron.

ISBN 978-0-85905-704-2, (New, 2019), 160 x 240mm, 712 pp, colour and black and white illustrations, maps, indexed, hard cover, 2kg+, $140.00* + POST

An important contribution to the history of WA covering all that periods 65 expeditions, including many that were previously unknown. Includes for the first time all the colour plates of Forrest in the 1870s. Over 150 illustrations and maps.

Like our other Exploration Diaries this will become the basic reference in this field. Due to the poisoned arrows of our economy the edition is small, so please do not delay ordering. 

Woodlines of Western Australia 

A comprehensive history of the Goldfields woodlines.

by Phil Bianchi.

ISBN 978-0-85905-725-7, (New, 2019), 170 x 240, french flaps, heavily illustrated, 449 pages, 1.2kg, $85.00* + POST

Without a source of cheap energy to fuel steam boilers and for ore treatment, only the Western Australian mines with rich ore would have been productive.

Firewood companies established privately owned train lines up to 120 miles out from major centres such as Kalgoorlie to bring in firewood. Although the Kurrawang and Lakewood woodlines are the main feature of this book; other woodlines included Lakeside south of Boulder, Kurramia/Kanowna, Cue, Laverton, Gwalia and Westonia.

Firewood cutters, carters and loaders from war torn Europe, came to Australia seeking a better life; they lived in hessian walled basic camps with earthen floors and a tin roof. The book features 22 first-hand accounts of the hardships faced by woodliners working, living and growing up on the woodlines. Many a wife and family joining the husband after a few years were shocked at the conditions; suffering flies, heat, cold, loneliness, maggots in meat and poor quality drinking water.

Between 1900 and 1964 a total of 21.6 million tons of firewood had been cut; during 1912-16 average production was 650,000 tons per year. By the time the firewood companies ceased operations they had clear-felled a staggering 3.04 million hectares of goldfields woodlands; almost half the area of Tasmania.

Other woodline topics discussed include: racism, riots, internment, exploitation and bribery, shanties, sports days, strikes and deaths and accidents.

Small essays and reports as A5 booklets have recently been produced.

These are :-

3000 Miles on Side Saddle. Daisy Bates. ISBN 978-0-85905-718-9, A5, $10.00*
 

Alligators of Cambridge Gulf, The by W.C. Charnley. ISBN 978-0-85905-694-6, A5, $5.00*
 

An Aboriginal Monster. by Daisy Bates. ISBN 978-0-85905-740-0, (RN, 2018), A5, 10 pp, $5.00*

A description of the habits and character of an Aboriginal monster who terrorised his tribe and cannibalised all he could.
 

A tale of the Meekatharra Track by Jean Dell & Hal Warwick. ISBN 978-0-85905-709-7, A5, $10.00*
 

Billy's Passenger. A voyage to Port Walcott by Richmond Thatcher. ISBN 978-0-85905-708-0, A5, $10.00*

Contributions towards an Aboriginal Dictionary of Biography by Peter Bridge. ISBN 978-0-85905-668-7, A5, $10.00*

The Count, Giovanni Francisco De Bonanate, a Perth Character. Ed. by Peter J Bridge. ISBN 978-0-85905-743-1, (New, 2018), A4, 24pp, illustrated, 80 grams, $22.00*

The jury is still out as to whether the Count was merely a demented Diego, a con artist, or a lost relic of Buonaparte's empire.

Bonanate was a travelling journalist who sold cheap cigars, played the ponies, and was a fixture in the Magistrate's courts for his love affairs with booze.

His line was, he claimed, that of Napoleon's retinue and his son's destiny to be King of France.

He left Australia in 1930 to 'help' Mussolini. He certainly helped us by leaving.

Two of his many children returned to Australia much later to live and die. They would have had a story.

Goose's Puzzle, The. by Peter J. Bridge. ISBN 978-0-85905-713-4, A5, $10.00* The biography of prospector Charlie 'The Goose' Harris.

Hannans Revisited by Watty. ISBN 978-0-85905-690-8, A5, $5.00*

Matrimony at Marble Bar. ISBN 978-0-85905- 693-9, A5, $5.00* A mesalliance in the mulga.

Oldest Perth. The days before the white men won. Daisy Bates. ISBN 978-0-85905-721-9, A5, $10.00*

Pearl Station on the NW Coast, The by Richmond Thatcher. ISBN 978-0-85905-707-3, A5, $10.00*

Port Hedland to Carnarvon by Buckboard by Daisy Bates. ISBN 978-0-85905-722-6, A5, $16.00*

Real Stolen Generations, The. Lost in the bush and stolen by blacks by Peter Bridge. ISBN 978-0-85905-665-6, A5, $10. The disappeared white children.

Tin Memorials in Menzies Cemetery, The. by Yvonne Coate. ISBN 978-0-85905-717-2, $15.00*

Wild Nor'-West, The by Crosscut Wilson. ISBN 978-0-85905-692-2, A5, $5.00*

All above A5 booklet prices are + POST

MORE TITLES THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED

Coming soon:-

William F. Rudall. Surveyor and Explorer by Peter Bridge, Phil Bianchi, Alan Zweck, Gail Dreezens.

Chasing the Dragon's Tale by Bob Shepard. 

A History of Dressage in Western Australia by Marion Hercock and Zoë Harrison.

The Pilbarra Society.

This organisation, based at Hesperian, has been set up to concentrate on Pilbara history, its places, people, and potential. The iron ore industry has dominated the area for many decades but the history of the area since the 1860s is little known.

The characters and incidents are as interesting as that of the better known Kimberley and goldfields. Station, mine and town histories are needed and the society hopes to bring together those who can contribute to the subject.