Melbourne After The Gold Rush
Australian History Social History Urban History Gold-Rush History 19th-Century Colonial History Victorian Local History Reference / Textbook
Michael Cannon’s Melbourne After The Gold Rush is the definitive hardcover account of how Victoria’s capital turned glittering wealth into a lasting metropolis. Written by one of Australia’s most respected historians and first published in 1993, this 490-page illustrated reference follows the city from the 1860s to the 1890s—charting the moment when dusty tent camps gave way to gas-lit streets, grand banks, and the nation’s busiest port. Buyers gain a front-row seat to the land booms, railway mania, and immigrant waves that forged modern Melbourne, all told through vivid true stories of politicians, speculators, Chinese market gardeners, and ex-convicts who reinvented themselves in the boom years.
What makes this copy especially appealing is its collector-grade condition: a crisp, tight block with no dog-eared pages, tears, or inscriptions, protected by the original dust jacket (light shelf scuffing only). The book is heavily illustrated with rare photographs, maps, and period advertisements that bring the era to life—perfect for students, educators, or anyone curating an Australian history library. Because it was written as a readable yet authoritative textbook, it doubles as both a scholarly citation source and an engaging narrative for young adults and adults discovering Melbourne’s post-gold transformation for the first time.
Keywords that matter—Melbourne Gold History, Australian History Education, Michael Cannon Goldrush, Melbourne Convicts, Adult Learning Reference—are all covered in depth, making this volume highly sought after by genealogists, teachers, and heritage professionals. With no ex-library markings and no author signature to complicate provenance, this clean first-edition copy is an uncomplicated, investment-quality addition to any Australiana collection.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now