The Story of Australia by Vanessa Collingridge
An Overview of Australian History from Gondwana to the Present Day
Jan 17, 2009
The study of history can seem a dry and lifeless pursuit for some, but books such as The Story of Australia (Five Mile Press, 2008) by Vanessa Collingridge offer readers a reminder that Australia has a vibrant and fascinating history, albeit one that has its share of tragedies and disastrous decisions.
The Story of Australia
With only 64 pages of content and a subtitle of “The Epic Journey from Gondwana to the Present Day”, it should not surprise readers to discover that The Story of Australia is an overview of Australian history rather than an intensive and detailed reference text.
As a summary, the book works incredibly well offering a long term vision of Australia’s history from the break-up of the supercontinent Panagaea into Laurasia and Gondwana more than 250 million years ago and the subsequent formation of the land mass Terra Australis. Other subjects covered include the First Fleet, the discovery of gold, the Federation of Australia and profiles of significant explorers and early settlers.
The inclusion of facsimiles of documents is of particular interest and is likely to grasp the attention of all but the most indifferent readers. Copies of an official programme from the Inauguration of the Australian Commonwealth on January 1st, 1901, drawings by land rights activist Eddie Mabo regarding native title claims, Matthew Flinders 1814 chart of Terra Australis and various other items relating to significant people and moments in Australian history highlight and complement the text well.
It is a minor disappointment that while there is a detailed index of topics covered throughout the book, the absence of page numbers makes it difficult to quickly pinpoint a particular area of interest.
The integration of indigenous Australian history throughout the book is well managed, although the book is predominantly related to the history of white European settlement. The attitude of European settlers to the country’s original inhabitants is factually presented with information on the White Australia Policy and land rights issues amongst others. The long-awaited apology to the Aboriginal people, issued by newly appointed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008, is referred to in a single sentence entry on the final page.
A Visual Journey Through Australian History
The inclusion of removable facsimiles of letters, maps, journal entries, drawings and other documents serves to provide a sense of real connection with the past. For those who are visual or tactile learners, the ability to hold a document, rather than simply look at an image on a page, may serve to spark an interest in subject matter that they would otherwise not find quiet so engaging.
In addition to the enclosures, there are numerous images of portraits, drawings, paintings, maps and landscapes and photographs of locations and memorabilia such as Ned Kelly’s helmet and the Australian Federation Flag.
The book is packaged in a gift box-style cover depicting European ships arriving in a harbour with indigenous Australians looking on. The covers of the book itself have paintings of lizards in an Aboriginal-style print and the inside front and back covers have photographic images of the well-known Australian icons Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Sydney Harbour with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
An Ideal Gift for Australian History Buffs
In both presentation and content, The Story of Australia is sure to be received with delight by anyone with an interest in Australian history. The wax paper sleeves containing the document facsimiles will perhaps make it unsuitable as a general library or classroom reference, particularly for primary schools, however it would be ideal as a teacher resource for classroom discussions about Australian history.
The Story of Australia (ISBN: 9781741789621, 64 pages)
Distributed by Bookwise International, RRP $49.95
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