From Sails to Atoms by David R. Kirkby

From Sails to Atoms

First fifty years of Sutherland Shire 1906 to 1956

Compiled by David R. Kirkby

Publicity Aid, 1970, [First Edition], illustrated frontispiece, monotone sketches in text, coloured and sepia photographic plates, illustrated endpapers (maps), hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing and bumping to edges and covers, previous owners gift inscription on half title page, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing, bumping, chipping and small tears (see photographs)

“An exciting story of the people and events that went to make up the vivid history of the first fifty years of the Shire.  It tells for the first time of the secret preparations made to turn Sutherland into a fortress shire when during the second world war, Australia was threatened by an invasion from Japan.
The human tragedies of the depression years are recalled dramatically.  You learn just how close Sutherland Shire came to running its own Community Hotels.  You meet some of the Shire’s world-famous residents, like cricketer Arthur Mailey, Donald Mackay the last of the Australian explorers, and Henry Lawson, who spent some of his last days at “The Bonnet”, at Como.  It is all there, from the men who reefed the sails of the Endeavour when Captain Cook first landed at Kurnell, to the scientists smashing atoms at Lucas Heights today.”