John Arthur Parkin and His Australian Family
Australian History Memoir Biography Family History Genealogy Educational History Regional Commerce Pioneer Studies
Collectors of Australian family histories prize this scarce 2002 first-edition biography, limited to only 300 numbered copies—this one being #169. Roger Walker traces the journey of John Arthur Parkin, a pioneering educator and businessman whose influence helped shape rural schooling and regional commerce in late-19th- and early-20th-century Australia. Packed with first-hand accounts, archival photographs and meticulously charted family trees, the book doubles as both a compelling memoir and a practical genealogy resource for anyone researching the Parkin surname or settler life in Victoria and South Australia.
What sets this volume apart is its blend of personal narrative and national context: readers witness the transition from colonial classrooms to federation-era industry through the eyes of one enterprising family. Walker’s accessible, story-driven style keeps young-adult and adult audiences engaged while still satisfying historians looking for primary-source detail on everything from curriculum development to small-town banking. The sturdy hardback is protected by an unclipped dust jacket and arrives in very-good condition—clean pages, square spine, no inscriptions, only light shelf rub on the jacket—making it an ideal gift for local-history buffs, educators, or descendants eager to preserve a tangible piece of their heritage.
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