Melbourne After The Gold Rush
By Michael Cannon
Published by Loch Haven Books: Main Ridge 1993 1st Edition
A Nice, Clean Copy With Dustjacket In Very Good Condition Overall
"Melbourne After The Gold Rush is the acclaimed sequel to Michael Cannon's classic Old Melbourne Town Before The Gold Rush, continuing the story of Melbourne during one of the most transformative periods in Australian history. Focusing on the decades following the discovery of gold in the 1850s, Cannon traces the astonishing growth of a small colonial settlement into one of the wealthiest and most sophisticated cities in the British Empire. Drawing upon contemporary accounts, newspapers, illustrations and historical records, he vividly recreates the atmosphere of a city overflowing with opportunity, ambition and rapid change.
The book explores every aspect of Melbourne's post-gold-rush development, from booming commerce and grand public buildings to social life, entertainment, politics and the fortunes made by successful diggers and entrepreneurs. Cannon's engaging narrative captures the energy and optimism of a city transformed by unprecedented wealth, while also examining the challenges and inequalities that accompanied such explosive growth. Richly illustrated throughout, the volume provides a fascinating visual and historical record of nineteenth-century Melbourne at the height of its prosperity.
Published in 1993 by Loch Haven Books, this first edition remains one of the most accessible and enjoyable histories of colonial Melbourne. Combining meticulous research with Cannon's highly readable style, the book brings to life the personalities, events and social changes that shaped Victoria's capital during its golden age. An excellent addition to any collection of Australiana, Victorian history or Melbourne heritage, offering a compelling portrait of the city as it emerged from the Gold Rush era to become Australia's premier metropolis."
