AustLit

'In the 1800s, woman were expected to speak softly, move gracefully and cover their bodies. The idea that woman could play sport was shocking! However, some people disagreed. In 1912, Fanny Durack won the right to swim for Australia at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, winning a gold medal and breaking world records. Her Olympic success changed attitudes towards women and paved the way for other women athletes. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events that led to Fanny Durack's Olympic success, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'In 1965, a young man named Charles Perkins exposed the treatment of Indigenous Australians as second class citizens. Travelling on a bus, he led a group of university students on a 'freedom ride' through New south Wales and Queensland. Their protests against racism were met by outraged locals, but the students kept fighting for justice. They made headlines around the world, helping to change attitudes and, eventually, Australian laws. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events surrounding the Freedom Ride, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'Part of a unique, bestselling series telling the stories of some defining moments in Australia's history this book will be welcome in any library. Its combines conventional presentation and graphic-style re-enactments to bring the story of C.Y O'Connor and the Goldfields Pipeline to life.' (Publication summary)

'By the 1830s Australia was growing. Settlements had been established at Albany in Western Australia and Adelaide in South Australia. Albany Had good grazing land, but very little livestock. The only way livestock could be transported from Adelaide to Albany was by ship. A group of South Australian graziers decided to find and overland stock route from Adelaide to Albany. In 1840, a young explorer names Edward John Eyre was chosen to lead the expedition. Eyre did not find a stock route, but he did become the first European to cross the harsh desert Nullarbor Plain. This is the story of the people, the ideas and the events relating to Eyre's expedition across the Nullarbor, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'Captain Cook's Voyage in the Endeavour is a pivotal story in Australia's history. The book brings this intriguing story alive with a highly visual presentation. Graphic-style re-enactments are used alongside conventional presentation to convey additional details, and to show different viewpoints simultaneously.' (Publication summary)

'In 1790, a military unit called the New South Wales corps was sent to guard the new colony against invasion or attack. The colony was run by a governor, and the members of the Corps were supposed to follow his orders. However, the Corps officers quickly gained power and stopped taking orders. Soon the controlling all trade in the colony, and taking the best land for themselves. In 1806 a new governor, William Bligh, Tried to take back control of the colony. The conflict that followed between Bligh and the New South Wales corps is known as the 'Rum Rebellion'. It is the only time in Australia's history that the government has been overthrown by the military. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events that led to the Rum Rebellion, and how it changed Australia Forever.' (Publication summary)

'By 1810, the town of Sydney stretched 100 kilometres west from Sydney Cove to the base of the Blue Mountains. Soon, the new settlers needed more land, but to find it they needed to cross the mountains. In 1813, landowner Gregory Blaxland, William Wentworth and William Lawson tried to cross the Blue Mountains in an attempt to find new grazing land. They found a route part-way through the mountains, but did not complete the crossing. Government Surveyor George Evans was sent to follow their route and then finish the job. These men opened up the inland to European settlement. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events that led to the crossing of the Blue Mountains, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'Part of a unique, bestselling series telling the stories of some defining moments in Australia's history this book will be welcome in any library. Its combines conventional presentation and graphic-style re-enactments to bring the story of 'Weary' Dunlop and the Burma Railway to life. The approach promotes critical thinking and analysis through an emphasis on causes an effects, the study of key personalities and questioning the long-term outcomes of 'Weary' Dunlop's story for Australian society. The graphic-style presentation employed engages students, conveys details that text alone cannot convey and shows different viewpoints simultaneously.' (Publication summary)

'Part of a unique, bestselling series telling the stories of some defining moments in Australia's history this book will be welcome in any library. Its combines conventional presentation and graphic-style re-enactments to bring the story of Ned Kelly and the Kelly Gang to life. The approach promotes critical thinking and analysis through an emphasis on causes an effects, the study of key personalities and questioning the long-term outcomes of Ned Kelly's story for Australian society. The graphic-style presentation employed engages students, conveys details that text alone cannot convey and shows different viewpoints simultaneously.' (Publication summary)

'In the earliest days of European settlement in Australia, There was little help for the poor. Then, in the 1860s a deeply religious young woman named Mary Mackillop found a way to make a difference. She set up the order of the Sisters of St Joseph, a group of nuns dedicated to helping the poor. During her lifetime, Mary showed wisdom and faith in the face of great difficulties. Many people admired her work with the poor and deeply religious life, and lobbied to the catholic church to officially recognise her as a saint. In 2010, Mary Mackillops was canonised as Australia's first saint. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events that led to Mary Mackillop's Sainthood, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'Part of the Stories from Australia’s history series, which promotes critical thinking and analysis through an emphasis on causes and effects, key personalities and their roles, and the long-term outcomes for Australian society.This particular book in the series focuses on the expedition to cross Australia by Burke and Wills. Includes graphic illustrations by Tom Larkey.' (Publication summary)

'In 1966, Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari led his people in a walkout off Wave Hill Cattle Station. The station was built on traditional Gurindji land, but the Gurindji people were treated like slaves and paid little. Nine years after the walkout, the Gurindji people won back their land and control of their lives. The Wave Hill walkout marks the beginning of the Indigenous land rights movement. This struggle continues today. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events behind the walkout, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'In 1854, a group of gold miners, led by Peter Lalor, built a wooden fort and took up guns against government troops. They believed they were fighting for justice and the right to vote, but the government saw the miners as troublemakers and rebels. The miners lost the battle, but eventually won the fight. The Eureka Stockade started a democratic movement that resulted in voting rights for all Australians.' (Publication summary)

'In the early 1900s, Antarctica was one of the worlds last unexplored wilderness areas. In 1911, Douglas Mawson and his team set off to explore Antarctica and gather scientific information. Their journey was dangerous, and Mawson faced terrible choices along the way. However, the expedition raised the profile of Australian science around the world, and Mawsons research has helped protect the Antarctic.' (Publication summary)

'When Captain Arthur Phillip sailed the First Fleet to New South Wales, he established a new colony that marked the beginning of the modern nation of Australia. However, for Indigenous Australians, the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 began a struggle to survive and to keep their cultures alive. This struggle continues today. This is a story of the people, the ideas and the events behind that journey, and how it changed Australia forever.' (Publication summary)

'Dennis and his family have come to Australia so his dad can work on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. But Dennis is miserable. He misses his old life back in England. Will he ever get used to this strange new place? Will he ever feel at home again? ' (Publication summary)