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1976 Build A Fleet Lose A Fleet Australian Maritime History Book Author SIGNED

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Condition: Very good

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1976 Build A Fleet Lose A Fleet Australian Maritime History Book Author SIGNED

Build A Fleet Lose A Fleet
By Captain R. McDonell
Published by The Hawthorn Press: Melbourne 1976 1st Edition
SIGNED BY AUTHOR

" Captain R. McDonell's Build a Fleet, Lose a Fleet (1976) offers a vivid and authoritative account of the rise and fall of the Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers—Australia's ambitious but troubled experiment in state-run shipping. Founded in 1916 under Prime Minister W. M. "Billy" Hughes and expanded through post-World War I reparations, the Line briefly commanded an impressive array of vessels, from cargo steamers and crack liners to passenger ships and locally built freighters. McDonell, drawing on official memoranda, shipping records, and first-hand maritime experience, traces how political manoeuvring, administrative rigidity, and economic pressures ultimately transformed a national asset into an organisational cautionary tale. His narrative is richly supported by documentary reproductions and historic photographs that illuminate both the fleet's operational life and its long decline.

Beyond chronicling a little-known episode in Australian maritime history, McDonell situates the Government Line's story within the wider context of global trade, wartime logistics, and the complex interplay between government policy and commercial shipping practice. As a first edition published by The Hawthorn Press and signed by the author, this volume holds significant appeal for collectors of Australian shipping history, maritime researchers, and readers interested in the political and economic forces that shape national industries."

Light wear to dust jacket. Pages very clean and well presented. A nice copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.

Size 22.5cm x 15cm x 2.5cm - 192 Pages

PRODUCT DETAILS


Condition: Very good
Binding: Cloth
Special Attributes: ["1st Edition", "Dust Jacket", "Illustrated", "Signed by Author"]
Region: Australia, Oceania
Subject: Maritime
Original/Facsimile: Original
Seller Notes: Light wear to dust jacket. Pages very clean and well presented. A nice copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Language: English
Author: Captain R. McDonell
Publisher: The Hawthorn Press: Melbourne
Year Printed: 1976
Sub-subject: Australian Maritime