Hesperian Press

The Common Thread – Arnold Weinholt

Aussies in the thick of it. Stories from East Africa WWI, WWII. Ada Woodhill, Australian First Lady of German East Africa. And SOE’s Ethiopian Mission 101

Geoff Blackburn

ISBN 978-0-85905-710-3, (New, 2018), A4, illustrated, 40 pp, 185 grams

$25.00 + POST

The first, and hopefully not the last, Australian politician shot for spying. Unreported byways and fascinating African adventures in the Great Game.

Cue to the Klondyke

Herbert Annesley Ainsworth

ISBN 978-0-85905-724-0, (New, 2018), A4, 28pp, 100 grams

$15.00* + POST

A great story of adventure and perseverance in two great gold rushes.

Dingbat Flat

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Riots of 1934

Rod Moncrieff

ISBN 978-0-85905-711-0, (New, 2018), A4, illustrated, 178pp, 500grams

$35.00* + POST

The race based riots and their causes have echoed over the past century. The first dispassionate study of a usually highly politicised incident. Essential reading for the multiculters.

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPLORERS’ DIARIES PROJECT INC.

Exploration Eastwards 1860-1869

Edited by Peter Bridge and Kim Epton. (WAEDP series.)

ISBN 978-0-85905-701-1, (New, 2018), casebound, section sewn, illustrated, maps, indexed, 576 pages, 1.5kg

$115.00* + POST

Contains some 30 expeditions including Lefroy and CC Hunt with appendices on the plants by Alex George and animals by Ian Abbott. Biographical notes on all known expedition members. Resolves the problems of the 'convicts gold' and Hunt's unknown convict helpers.

This is a very small run which will ensure future scarcity.

The companion volume 1869-1896 will go to the printers in July.

Horse Trams of the old West

Peter J. Bridge

ISBN 978-0-85905-733-2, (New, 2018), A4, illustrated, 26pp, 90 grams

$20.00* + POST

Horse trams were a feature of the old north coastal towns, taking passengers and cargo from the jetties to the townships.

In Tropical Skies

A History of Aviation to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands

By Tony McGrath

ISBN 978-0-85905-756-1 (New, 2019) A4, illustrated.

$29.95* (to purchase please contact the author)

Author, Tony McGrath, specialises in Western Australian commercial aviation history

This book outlines the development of commercial aviation to Australia's Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands since 1939. Formerly British colonies, Christmas Island lies off the coast of Java just a short flight away from Jakarta, and Cocos Islands lie half-way between Perth and Sri Lanka.

The decades hold interesting tales about these remote and beguiling islands, and this book outlines their aviation history against a backdrop of wars, changes of sovereignty and other geopolitical and major events.

Qantas's post-war Australia-England air services operated via Cocos Islands and this was followed by flights via Cocos Islands to South Africa and to South East Asia. The islands soon became a vital, mid-ocean air junction between four continents. Christmas Island's earliest flights were Royal Air Force flying boats from Singapore to the island's Flying Fish Cove. It later hosted a small private landing strip, before an official airport was opened in the 1970s, enabling regular air links to the Australian mainland and to South East Asia.

This book makes compelling reading for both aviation enthusiasts and those interested in the history of Australia's Territories. Some reviewers' comments follow:

"Tony McGrath has written a wonderful story of pioneering aviation and enterprise, laced with the occasional tragedy, in one of the most unique and isolated parts of the globe." (Jim Eames, Author)

"I am impressed by the detailed coverage of the wartime years and early post-war. Tony McGrath has covered a broad subject in a very readable way, with the right degree of dates and facts where required." (Geoffrey Goodall, Aviation Historian/Writer)

"I thoroughly enjoyed reading... and was impressed with the amount of research about the air services, political intrigue and larger than life characters which made life so colourful in the early days of aviation in this remote part off the world.... profusely illustrated with photographs, many of which had never been published before. These helped bring the narrative to life. I would recommend In Tropical Skies to any reader interested in aviation history and/or life in Christmas or Cocos Islands." (Merv Prime, Aviation Historian/Writer)

_ _ _ _ _

How to buy:

Contact the author at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0417 134 458 or buy online at www.tony-mcgrath.com

Sample page images at: www.facebook.com/InTropicalSkies

RRP $29.95

Jim’s Story

Reminiscences of a petroleum geologist

Jim Parry

ISBN 978-0-85905-726-4, (New, 2018), A4, 93pp, Illustrated, 270 grams

$30.00* + POST

Jim Parry joined WAPET in 1952 and was involved in all their oil exploration, including Rough Range. Later he worked in Libya, returning to work on Barrow Island. A good read for all the old rock choppers.

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPLORERS’ DIARIES PROJECT INC.

Journal of the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition 1891-1892

David Lindsay

Edited by Peter J. Bridge, Calliope Bridge and Celene Bridge

ISBN 978-0-85905-658-8, (Reprint 1893 + New 2018), Casebound, section sewn, illustrated - b&w and colour, maps, indexed, 397 pages, 1.08 kg,

$105.00* + POST

With appendices on the plants by Alex George and animals by Ian Abbott, reported by the expedition. Also the full Anthropology report by Richard Helms which has not been available for over a century, which contains 6 colour plates and many b&w photos. Biographies of all the men.

This is a very small run which will ensure future scarcity.

Massacre!

Peter J Bridge

ISBN 978-0-85905-734-9, (New, 2018), A4, 53pp, illustrated, 170 grams

$30.00* + POST

The brutal shootings and bludgeoning to death of many Aboriginal men, women and children at Laverton in 1910 shocked the nation. It was the culmination of a series of attacks and murders but the trial resulted in the acquittal of the perpetrators.

Memoirs of Ted Cockram

Teamster, Tailor and Tourism

A life in the NW

Ted Cockram

ISBN 978-0-85905-703-5, (New, 2018), A4, 220pp, illustrated, 600 grams

45.00* + POST

Ted’s early bush life led to his being one of the major promotors of tourism in the North and the Goldfields, long before the current slick marketing campaigns have made their millions. An important bio of a genuine Westralian.

The Murchison in 1887

William Frear Forster & Frank Wittenoom

ISBN 978-0-85905-716-5, (New, 2018), A4, Indexed, 57 pp, 170 grams

$30.00* + POST

The newly created stations in the Upper Murchison became a byword for enterprise and have remained important pastoral properties to the present. A visit by a group of government officials and business people recorded much that was otherwise lost.

Nitrate Nomads

by Daryl Binning

ISBN 13:978-0-6482274-0-3, (New, 2019), 160x240mm, heavily illustrated B&W, 39 colour plates, French flaps, 380pp, 1.2kg, $60.00* 

The exciting years of Allan Jones circuit pictures and other south-west showmen. An entertaining and highly interesting history of the early picture show business.

Incidents, biographies, film stills, will bring back memories of those who attended the bush shows in the south west halls. This will become a classic for film historians.

Available directly from the author, Daryl Binning

20 Norton Ridge, Winthrop, WA 6150

Phone (61)/(08) 9310 3377

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nor’ West O’ West

Tales of Old Onslow

Herbert E. Riemann

ISBN 978-0-85905-728-8, (2018, R + New, 2018), 160 x 240mm, illustrated, 182 pp, 450 grams

$40.00 + POST

Short stories of Onslow and the Ashburton set in the early 1900s. Riemann was judged the best short story writer in Australia in the 1950s. These are some of his best, set in the Old North of pearlers, prospectors, police and pastoralists. 

Not Only Knowledge

The making of a College of Advanced Education in Western Australia

John Renner and Sybe Jongeling

ISBN 978-0-85905-732-5, (New, 2018), 210x250mm, illustrated, 209pp, 510 grams

$45.00* + POST

The history of a unique institution, The WA Secondary Teachers College and the Nedlands College of Advanced Education. 1967-1981.