In 1835 John Batman sailed up the Yarra and was astonished by the beauty of the land. It was a temperate Kakadu, teeming with wildlife and with soils rich enough to spawn pastoral empires. With the discovery of gold, the city was transformed almost overnight into 'marvellous Melbourne'.

John Batman An Inside Story of the Birth of Melbourne A Summary of the Story This book tells the story of how Melbourne was birthed. It begins with Captain Cook’s discovery of Australia and the colonisation that followed at Botany Bay. The quest began to find a suitable location for another settlement in the south of the continent. Although Port Phillip Bay was discovered, its potential was not immediately realised. The penal settlement established at Sorrento by David Collins in 1803 was abandoned within three months and the site of Hobart in Tasmania was chosen for the next development. In 1824 the explorers Hume and Hovell travelled south from Sydney and reached Port Phillip Bay. They recognised the potential of the area but unfortunately Hovell made a mistake regarding its location, which impeded settlement for another eleven years. Hume and Batman had been childhood friends and when Batman, then living in Tasmania, heard about the vast pasturelands available in the area it triggered the dream of taking possession of the land of plenty north of Bass Strait. It would take another nine years before he could assemble a group of influential men to assist him in his quest to claim the riches waiting at Port Phillip Bay. The plan was spearheaded by a group of four men supported by a larger group of investors. Charles Swanston who owned the biggest bank in Australasia controlled the finances, while Joseph Gellibrand, a lawyer who had been Attorney General in Tasmania, organised the legal requirements for the project. John Wedge’s role as surveyor was to map the territory ready for subdivision. John Batman, who was Australian born, brought a large variety of skills to the drawing board. He was thought to be Australia’s greatest tracker, he had captured bushrangers, successfully gathered the remnant of Tasmanian Aborigines as well as being a wealthy landowner. The political climate within the British Parliament at that time was influenced by the recent passage of the Act to Abolish Slavery in 1833. The outpouring of humanitarian feeling generated by this event led to new attitudes towards native rights and title. Within the hearts of these men from Tasmania there developed a desire to establish a settlement that would not only bring them financial gain but also set a benchmark within the British Empire for equitable relationships between native peoples and Europeans. To achieve such an ideal the notion of a treaty gradually developed, modelled on William Penn’s Treaty in Pennsylvania in 1683. Batman’s role was to lead the expedition to Port Phillip, explore the land and make a treaty with the local Aborigines. Unfortunately the timing of this opportunity coincided with the news that he was seriously ill at just 32 years old. The project became a race against his failing health and what was planned as a carefully thought out expedition became a hurried event. John Batman in his barque the Rebecca finally passed through the heads into Port Phillip Bay in May 1835, the first white man to do so in three decades. He was amazed at the quality of the land he found and the beauty of the magnificent harbour. He needed to find the natives so he could execute the treaty that Gellibrand had prepared for him. However on seeing the European vessel entering the bay the Aborigines had sent up smoke signals telling everyone to hide until the clan leaders could meet and work out a strategy for dealing with the situation. Eventually they approached Batman and took him to a ceremonial site they had chosen. The treaty was duly executed but because of Batman’s ill health it was not possible for him to enact all that Gellibrand had written into the pro forma deed. When John Batman returned to Tasmania he was hailed as a hero and referred to as the Tasmanian Penn. He called the settlement to be established by the treaty Batmania. There was still much to be done, since

Lord Melbourne was Prime Minister from 1843-1835 and was a kind friend and guide to the young Victoria on her accession. Earlier he was married to Lady Caroline Lamb, the mistress of Byron. He played an important role in the social and political history of England.

The #1 international bestseller on climate change that’s been endorsed by policy makers, scientists, writers, and energy executives around the world. Tim Flannery’s The Weather Makers contributed in bringing the topic of global warming to worldwide prominence. For the first time, a scientist provided an accessible and comprehensive account of the history, current status, and future impact of climate change, writing what has been acclaimed by reviewers everywhere as the definitive book on global warming. With one out of every five living things on this planet committed to extinction by the levels of greenhouse gases that will accumulate in the next few decades, we are reaching a global climatic tipping point. The Weather Makers is both an urgent warning and a call to arms, outlining the history of climate change, how it will unfold over the next century, and what we can do to prevent a cataclysmic future. Originally somewhat of a global warming skeptic, Tim Flannery spent several years researching the topic and offers a connect-the-dots approach for a reading public who has received patchy or misleading information on the subject. Pulling on his expertise as a scientist to discuss climate change from a historical perspective, Flannery also explains how climate change is interconnected across the planet. This edition includes a new afterword by the author. “An authoritative, scientifically accurate book on global warming that sparkles with life, clarity, and intelligence.” —The Washington Post

The author of the #1 international bestseller, The Weather Makers, provides a stunning portrait of Australia’s cultural capital. Sydney, Australia, is one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating cities, home to over five million people and a popular tourist destination. In The Birth of Sydney, scientist and historian Tim Flannery blends the writings of Australian explorers, settlers, leaders, journalists, and visitors to construct a compelling narrative history of the great metropolis—from its founding as a remote penal colony of the British Empire in 1788 to its emergence as a vital trading power in the nineteenth century. Together, their voices and experiences create an unforgettable panoramic portrait of the early life of the majestic harbor city.

Melbourne and Eau Gallie tells the story of two pioneer towns and their coming of age during the last century. From tiny villages, whose early settlers depended on the Indian River for sustenance and travel, Melbourne and Eau Gallie has grown into a unified Space Coast city with more than 71,000 residents. With the railroad in the 1890s and US Highway 1 in the 1920s, tourism, agriculture, and industry blossomed in these midway towns along the Florida East Coast. World War II brought a military, aviation, and technological presence to Melbourne and Eau Gallie that was followed by a flood of new residents tied to America's Space Program. Through it all the Indian River Lagoon has maintained its importance in the lives of the area's people. History comes to life in these pages as readers discover familiar faces, names, places, and events that are distinct to each town and shared by today's unified city. Included are vintage photographs of the historic downtowns, riverfronts, and landmarks like the "Trysting Steps," Sunny Point, and the old bridges.

‘In The Birth Space … you will find the information and support that will take you from conception through matrescence, with deeper calm, confidence and power.’ Aviva Romm, MD The Birth Space is a doula's guide to conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum that highlights choice and rights in the perinatal space. In this beautiful book, trained and experienced doula Gabrielle Nancarrow offers comprehensive information about the birthing landscape that will empower you to choose the right birth for you – whether that be an obstetric, midwife or home birth. The Birth Space shows us how to prepare our minds and bodies for pregnancy and labour, from conscious conception through to postpartum and into matrescence. Gabrielle helps us understand what to expect during this period and translates the medical terminology so we are informed. She also provides remedies for common ailments, shares insights from other birth specialists, and is a constant spiritual guide from conception and beyond…talk about continuity of care! Filled with moving photography by Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher Kidd (@ilsa_whk), Lisa Sorgini @lisa.sorgini, and Hayden Trace (@feelinghomeagain) as well as intimate real-life stories from contributors covering pregnancy loss, IVF, same-sex conception, home births, caesareans and more, The Birth Space is the essential companion for anyone who is seeking guidance as they enter this new chapter of their life.