Each year the History Trust of South Australia supports the publication of history books through the South Australian History Fund. The books that are successful are those that increase our knowledge of South Australian history and make these fascinating stories accessible to all. The South Australian History fund strives to represent a diversity of voice and stories and the list of publications in 2024 continues this rich tradition. We are sharing just a few of them here. Happy reading!
Telling the story of South Australia’s favourite department store. This sumptuous publication by Paul Flavel features hundreds of rarely seen photographs and is the first book to chronicle the more than 130-year history of John Martin’s.
Drawn from Dorothy Campbell’s diaries Her Great Adventure: Dorothy ‘Puss’ Campbell WW2 Army Nursing Sister – is an account of Campbell’s war time experience as a nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service. Enriched by Campbell’s own photography Scarfe details friendships made, sightseeing escapades and Campbell’s working life while serving in England, the Middle East and Papua New Guinea.
Harry Hodgetts is a figure who, until recently, had disappeared from the historical record. That is until former History, Australian Studies and Theory of Knowledge teacher John Davis came along. Davis has brought the story of Harry Hodgetts to life, his rise as a prominent Adelaide stockbroker, his commitment to sporting codes, education and the Royal Institute of the Blind, the role he played in bringing Don Bradman to South Australia and his eventual fall from grace that saw him incarcerated.
Stones of Fire is the autobiographical story of Minnie Berrington, thought to be the first female opal miner. Originally published in 1958 this work was republished in 2024 with a forward by Minnie’s grand-niece Rachel Berrington and introduction by Stuart Wattison. The re-release of Stones of Fire again allows the world to know the story of English immigrant Minnie Berrington who set off for Coober Pedy in search of Australian opal.
On the 19th of July 1916 South Australian and Western Australian soldiers of the 32nd Battalion took part in the unmitigated disaster that was the Battle of Fromelles. In A Veritable Hell Scrimgeour uses the words and reminisces of the Australian soldiers who took part in this offensive. From the home front Scrimgeour exposes the desperation of families searching and the anguish that comes from not knowing.