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James McDonald's Volume III of the history of Canberra is published

16 February 2025

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 III. Pastoral Plutocracy (1862-1906) has been recently published. This volume commences with the free selection revolution of 1862. McDonald explains how land reform was bitterly opposed by most squires, who bullied small farmers, used 'dummy' selections to grab land themselves, closed public roads, and used fraud and litigation to get their way. But it also shows how resilient the free selectors were and how they organised to defend themselves. McDonald brings the farming communities back to life, block by block.

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.

This new volume is $45 and can be purchased from the centre during opening hours.


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