Business

Tasmania’s Struggle for Power – A.J. Gillies

An unusual little soft cover which for some reason commands higher prices than we would expect on the usual websites. We have not followed that route.

Published by Michael and Christine Lillas in Burnie in 1984. Octavo, 169 pages plus unpaginated appendix, some illustration, rather old-fashioned typesetting consistent with it effectively self-published style.

The title may be slightly tongue in cheek as we are talking about electrical power here not political, our preference, rather have the lights than the (insert rhyming slang).

The first good power in Tasmania arrived 1888 when the proprietor, Hogarth, installed a water driven turbine. The idea had come to him following a trip to Scotland. He only got enough electricity for the lights not the machines, but this was still a first on a number of fronts.

The bulk of the book is about the establishment of the first serious power generation at the great lakes and the building of dams and infrastructure to create the head of water. And the subsequent development of the zinc smelting industry which could not have arisen without the former.

The real power behind Tasmania

$30.00

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Coins and Tokens of Tasmania – 1803-1910 – Roger McNiece

The definitive work. We really admire people like McNiece who through their passion for their interest put the hard yards in, the effort, to produce such a useful work. Tooley, Spence, King etc all come to mind.

Published by Platypus Publication, Hobart in 1969, a first edition. Rather rare. Printed on the Mercury Presses bound by Walch .. how more Tasmanian can you get.

Octavo, 112 pages, numerous illustrations to help one along. A very good copy in an excellent dust jacket bar a small closed tear to rear.

Roger McNiece was a founding member of the Tasmanian Numismatics Society.

And, more than coins and tokens. We start with Specie .. the currency of NSW and the consequences of the Settlement of Van Diemen’s Land. Sorrell and Brisbane’s reforms. Arthur and the Sterling Money Act. The allowance for South American Dollars, Sicca Rupees [we had to encourage gentlemen in service in India to retire in VDL], Mexican Dollars ..

Then Paper Currency and Police Fund Notes and Treasury Bills. A lengthy chapter on Private Promissory Notes and numerous individual issuers. A chapter on Barter and the use of Rum Therein. Special Bank Issues and then the last third of the book taken up with Trade Tokens – so collectable.

More than Coins and Tokens – the McNiece Standard

$80.00

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The Brothers Taylor – A Tasmanian Maritime History – Colin Taylor

Hard to find, Colin Taylor’s comprehensive book about his Maritime ancestors. Between 1860 and 1920the Taylor family dominated big shipping in Northern Tasmania, at one time eight brothers held Masters Certificates. A the vessels wow such beautiful ships.

Published by Navarine in 1998. Part of the Roebuck series No 50. Large squarish octavo, 184 pages, illustrated throughout often from period photographs of the magnificent vessels. Fine condition

Interested in Maritime History – you need to know about the Taylor Brothers.

$50.00

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Smugglers and Sailors – The Customs History of Australia 1788-1901 – David Day

A super fine copy of this substantial book that looks at the development of Australia through the Customs Service.

The author David Day born in Queensland and went to Melbourne University an later awarded a research Fellowship at Clare College Cambridge. At Clare he write three widely acclaimed works .. Menzies and Churchill at War; The Great Betrayal and Reluctant Nation … books that changed more than just the perspective. So who better to be appointed to write this work sponsored by the Government.

A quality production, Quarto, 528 pages, illustrated nicely throughout. Published in 1992.

Covers going on in NSW, Van Diemen’s Land, Port Phillip, Moreton Bay, WA, South Australia .. plenty of smuggling, fancy uniforms, temptation of vice, standard to be challenged and broken .. society in the day.

Customs a lot more interesting than you might first think!

$35.00

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[Tasmania] The Zinc Works – Producing Zinc at Risden 1916-1991 – Alison Alexander

Commissioned by Pasminco and written by distinguished and thorough historian Alison Alexander.

Large octavo, perfect bound soft cover, 360 pages with about as many illustrations mainly from period photographs.

One of our favourites among our collection of industrial histories of Tasmania.

This a significant business employing many Tasmanians an enterprise of international scale. So much so it attracted the attention of the Japanese during WWII. The Japanese carried micro reconnaissance aircraft on their submarines, and one was launched to photograph the works. Hobart already had anti-aircraft guns on the go – but they did not fire because the didn’t want to expose their position.

Some very good content about the growth and investment and success of the business and some of the lighter side such as the “belching” competitions in the metallurgy department. Well people were easily amused back then

Zinc works – now that’s a real business.

$40.00

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Hanji Mahomet Allum – Afghan Camel-Driver, Herbalist and Healer in Australia – Madelaine Brunato – Very Rare

A scarce book published by Investigator Press of Leabrook in 1972; effectively self published. Octavo, 80 pages, illustrated throughout.

Mahomet Allum was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan about 1857. He came to Australia in the 1880’s as a camel driver, working in Western Australia mainly in and around the gold-fields. He was a true transport pioneer, carrying mail and supplies thousands of miles into the most isolated of areas. Over time he built up a reputation as a herbalist and healer. In his later years he settled in South Australia … a well known and liked colourful and controversial figure … people flocked to receive his cures. He lived until he was 106 … no wonder he became known as the “Wonder Man”

Pasted at the front is a note on the author Madeleine Brunato who had spent time among the Mahommedan tribes of Quetta. The note is signed and annotated by the author.

Camel driving in the Western Deserts or was it the herbs that kept him alive so long …

$40.00

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Tasmania’s Struggle for Power – A.J. Gillies

Coins and Tokens of Tasmania – 1803-1910 – Roger McNiece

The Brothers Taylor – A Tasmanian Maritime History – Colin Taylor

Smugglers and Sailors – The Customs History of Australia 1788-1901 – David Day

[Tasmania] The Zinc Works – Producing Zinc at Risden 1916-1991 – Alison Alexander

Hanji Mahomet Allum – Afghan Camel-Driver, Herbalist and Healer in Australia – Madelaine Brunato – Very Rare

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