From Dusk Till Dawn: A History of Australian Lighthouses
Australian History Local History Technology & Engineering Photography Maritime History Architecture Nautical Antiques & Collectibles
From Dusk Till Dawn: A History of Australian Lighthouses is the 1988 first-edition hardcover that collectors and coastal-history buffs hunt for. Gordon Reid’s 264-page tribute pairs rare archival photos with architectural drawings and on-site images, turning every lighthouse—from Tasmania’s Iron Pot to Western Australia’s Cape Leeuwin—into a character in a sweeping national story. Printed in Australia and never reprinted in this original large-format size, the book is already scarce; finding a clean copy with its illustrated dust-jacket still intact is becoming harder each year.
What makes this copy especially appealing is the gentle gift inscription on the fly-leaf—no author signature, but a neat vintage hand-written note that anchors the book in its 1980s provenance without detracting from readability. Pages are bright, binding is tight, and only three tiny dog-eared corners interrupt an otherwise immaculate interior. For decorators, it doubles as a striking table book: the navy-and-gold jacket spine lights up a nautical-themed shelf, while the generous monochrome plates offer instant framed-art potential.
Beyond aesthetics, Reid’s narrative delivers. He charts every technological leap—oil-wick to solar—while weaving in keeper diaries, shipwreck rescues and political battles that saved towers from demolition. The result is a readable, young-adult-friendly reference that still satisfies maritime scholars. Whether you’re hunting for an Australian history gift, sourcing research material on coastal navigation, or completing an antiquarian collection of Australiana, this vintage first printing remains the definitive, beautifully illustrated cornerstone title.
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