Major History of Canberra volumes available

James McDonald has been working on his five-volume history of Canberra for the past decade.

Volume I. From Antiquity to Invasion and Volume II. Colonization (1824-61) have been published and are available at the centre for viewing and/or purchase.

Volume I commences with the prehistory of the district and goes on to discuss Aboriginal occupation along the available waterways and the local alpine regions.

Volume II covers colonisation from 1824, when the European pastoral teams first arrived, until 1861, the eve of Robertson's major land reforms.

James is working on Volume III and is due to finish the project in 2025.

Before moving to Victoria, James was a resident of Canberra, with close ties to the Ginninderra District where his maternal and paternal grandparents settled into rural life. His book tltled Three Henry Currans tells a wonderful story about three generations of early Australian settler families.

Each volume is $40 and can be purchased from the Centre during opening hours.