We are delighted to report that we have recently been able to obtain further copies of John Couper-Smartt’s popular book on the history of Port
Adelaide.
WE ARE NOW ABLE TO TAKE ORDERS FOR SIGNED COPIES OF “PORT ADELAIDE” IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!
PORT ADELAIDE: The History of a ‘Commodious Harbour’
Back in 2003 I was the author in a massive project, organised by The Friends of the South Australian Maritime Museum, to produce a comprehensive written history of Port Adelaide. The finished “coffee table-sized” hardback book was lavishly illustrated (under the direction of Port Adelaide antiquarian and author, Christine Courtney). It was an immediate success and soon sold out.
After over six years of labour an expanded and improved Second Edition is finally available. It is bigger (thicker at any rate, at over 630 pages) and contains even more images and maps than before. The text has been expanded and recognises the many changes that have occurred in Port Adelaide since the original edition of 2003.
The first edition was largely funded by a generous grant from the Federation Community Projects Programme in celebration of the Centenary of Federation, supported by the financial assistance of many local individuals and businesses. This second edition is published by the prestigious South Australian publishing house, WAKEFIELD PRESS . The expected date of publication was SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020. Unfortunately this date kept getting pushed out due to a succession of setbacks – not least of which was the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Despite the increasingly intrusive effects of SARS-CoV-2 in all its varied guises, and her own failing health, Liz Nicholson (of designBITE) persevered with the immense task of redesigning the book while Clinton Ellicott and the team at Wakefield carefully converted it into print-ready form.
All seemed to be on target for a release for Christmas 2020 when it was found that a clash between two software programmes had resulted in the total corruption of the extensive Index! This added a further delay to the production.
HOWEVER, IN EARLY OCTOBER 2021, and with a slightly different title, PORT ADELAIDE: The History of a ‘Commodious Harbour’, WAS FINALLY READY FOR PUBLICATION.
I have listed in the introduction to the book many of those who supported “The PATCH 2 Project” in different ways, including those who kept the project going by advance purchasing a book. Their support has been invaluable and the project could not have been completed without their help.
THANKS: Norm Bennett, Meredith Blundell, Michael Bollen (Wakefield Press), Jan Brooke, Liz Burge, Julie Conway, Christine Courtney (Sea-Witch Images), Cath Duncan, Hans Ehmann, Clinton Ellicott & and all at Wakefield Press, Michelina Gagliardi, Peter Green, Ian Hoffman, Tony Kearney, Saara Lamberg, Lindl Lawton (SA Maritime Museum), Gordon Lindsley, Dr Ted Morris, Robin Moulds, Anthony Moyle, Helen Myhill, Liz Nicholson (designBITE), Sue Organ, Port Adelaide Historical Society Inc., Jeanne Price, Meredith Reardon & Adrian Heard, Anita Renfrey, Brian Samuels, Peter Simons, Darren Thomas (Group GH), Amanda Thyssen, Sydney Tilmouth, Shane Walter, Casey Yates
John Couper-Smartt