In the Shadow of War

This is the story of Australia’s most transformative decade through the eyes of people who lived through it. From the outbreak of war to the birth of modern Australia by decade’s end, this nostalgic and historic journey captures what life was like for ordinary Australians during the 1940s

From rationing and blackouts, victory gardens and air raid drills, these are the stories of the men and who faced some of Australia’s most difficult times. Meet the men and boys who marched off to war, the women who built bombs and made bullets, the children who collected scrap metal for the war effort, and the immigrants who arrived with cardboard suitcases and unpronounceable names. Relive the excitement of Victory in Europe and then the Pacific, the first Holden rolling off the production line, and learn just how an unusual breakfast spread became a national icon.

Through personal memories and carefully researched stories, this book brings to life the decade that shaped modern Australia – when a nation faced its darkest hours and emerged stronger, more confident, and ready to build the lucky country we know today.

What made the swingin’ sixties

Step back into the Australian decade they call “The Swingin’ Sixties”. From the comfortable certainties of 1960 to the moon landing that ended the decade Photos and Memories 1960s captures the extraordinary transformation of a nation in a time of great change.

As Beatlemania swept through our cities and decimal currency replaced pounds, shillings and pence, we witnessed the 1967 referendum that overwhelmingly voted for Aboriginal rights. Relive the controversy of Vietnam, the disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt, and the cultural revolution that saw young Australians questioning everything their parents had accepted.

Beyond the major events, discover what daily life was really like – from typing pools and record shops to marching girls and Earl’s Court adventures. Through personal memories and year-by-year chronicles, this book brings the sights, sounds, and spirit of 1960s Australia vividly to life.

Whether you were born in the swinging sixties, went to school or simply want to understand the decade that shaped modern Australia, this nostalgic journey will inform, entertain, and transport you back to one of the most exciting eras in our nation’s history.

A look back in time

Step into Australia of 1976. A nation recovering from political upheaval, where flares were fashion, Countdown ruled Sunday nights on TV, and the local Chinese restaurant was exotic dining.

Discover the everyday details that shaped your world – from platform shoes to emerging environmental movements, from meat-and-three-veg to the first stirrings of multiculturalism, from the tribal passions of football codes to the revolution happening in women’s lives.

Through vivid storytelling and photos, explore the politics, culture, technology, and social changes of this pivotal year. Learn about the workplace your parents knew, the classrooms of your childhood, and the seeds of change that would define your future.

This is more than history – it’s the story of the Australia you were born into, told with warmth, insight, and a deep appreciation for the complexity and possibility of that remarkable year.

For All Those Who Can Remember

Come back with me into a most remarkable decade in Australia – the 1950s. Photos & Memories 1950s: For All Those Who Can Remember captures the stories, pictures and memories of an era that shaped a nation, from the end of wartime rationing to the arrival of television, from the dream of a quarter-acre block to the birth of teenage culture.

This isn’t just the history of our nation, it’s the story of everyday Australians rebuilding their lives after World War II. Tales of how families embraced new suburbs, welcomed European immigrants, and celebrated together during the Queen’s visit and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

If you were born or lived through the fifties, this book explores the milestones that defined a generation – first jobs, first cars, first homes, and the simple pleasures of backyard cricket and visits to the corner shop. For seniors, these pages will spark cherished memories; for younger readers, it’s a window into the decade that helped create a modern Australia.