The History of Bendigo (First Edition)

A history of Bendigo's first forty years, from the 1851 gold discovery, published in 1891, the year Sandhurst took the name of Bendigo.

Mackay's preface sets out the plan of the book. The first eight chapters give the general history of Bendigo from the gold discovery of 1851 to the author's own day. Chapters nine to eleven treat mining development, chapters twelve and thirteen politics, and chapter fourteen municipal affairs. Later chapters cover the water supply, journalism, public institutions, the churches, amusements, agriculture and viticulture, and local industries. Mackay describes his narrative as "plain and unvarnished". A folding panorama of the town serves as frontispiece.

The date of publication adds to its interest. A retailer's description of a digital reproduction records that the city's name was changed to Bendigo in 1891, and a scholarly article on "dear old Bendigo" notes that the origin of the name was a topic in the Melbourne press that same August. The book thus appeared at the moment the name had returned to public attention.

First edition. Octavo. [viii], 195, [i: colophon]pp. Folding panoramic frontispiece and ten monotone engraved illustrations throughout. Original green cloth, lettered in gilt with blind decorations. Near fine. Some very faint markings to outer covers and a hint of toning to contents here and there. A beautiful, crisp copy. 

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Catalogue Number: HH000828