Ballarat and Vicinity (First Edition)

A commemorative history of Ballarat compiled in 1894 by an American from Chicago, and still cited in heritage and local-history scholarship.

W. B. Kimberly was an American who came to Australia from Chicago in the mid-1880s and compiled a series of commemorative histories of colonial towns. Ballarat and Vicinity was the first of them. It was followed by Bendigo and Vicinity in 1895 and by a History of West Australia in 1897. The Ballarat Star reviewed the book on 18 October 1894 under the headline "A Comprehensive History of the Capital of the West". The full title sets out its scope: Ballarat's financial, commercial, manufacturing, mining and agricultural enterprises, and her progress and population in the past. It was published by F. W. Niven & Co., the Ballarat firm that also issued W. B. Withers's History of Ballarat in its illustrated second edition of 1887.

The book is still in use. It is cited in the City of Ballarat's 2024 Thematic Environmental History, in Sovereign Hill's study of the montage of Ballarat's pioneer women, and in scholarship on the goldfields press. The Ballarat and District Genealogical Society holds it in its Australiana Research Collection, now at the Eureka Centre, and lists it with an index of biographies. This copy was rebound in 2005 or thereabouts, and the rebinder's records accompany it.

Ballarat and Vicinity. A Condensed but Comprehensive Account of her Financial, Commercial, Manufacturing, Mining, and Agricultural Enterprises; her Progress and Population in the Past and Possibilities in the Future. Edited by W. B. Kimberly of Chicago, U.S.A. and Other Special Writers.

First Edition. Quarto. 232pp. Numerous illustrations throughout, both to plate leaves and in-text. Rebound in quarter polished calf and blue cloth boards, with gilt titling to spine and the original front cover bound in. Records included with the volume show that the binding was likely done in 2005 by M. A. Simper Bookbinders & Booksellers of Warrnambool. Fine throughout. Binding in great order. Contents clean and bright throughout. A lovely copy, extremely well preserved.

This book is currently on display in our Paddington store. If you would like more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact: rarebooks@harryhartog.com.au

Catalogue Number: HH000797