A History of VictoriaA History of Victoria is a lively account of the people, places and events that have shaped Victoria, from the arrival of the first Aboriginal peoples through to the present day. In his inimitable style, Geoffrey Blainey considers Victoria's transformation from rural state to urban society. He speculates on the contrasts between Melbourne and Sydney, and describes formative events in Victoria's history, including the exploits of Ned Kelly, the rise of Australian Football and the Olympics of 1956. Melbourne's latest population boom, sprawling suburbs and expanding ethnic communities are explored. Blainey also casts light on Victoria's recent political history. This edition features sections on the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, the end of the drought and the controversy surrounding the Wonthaggi desalination plant. New illustrations, photographs and maps enrich the narrative. Written by one of Australia's leading historians, this book offers remarkable insight into Victoria's unique position within Australian history. |
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Aboriginal Adelaide arrived Australia Ballarat banks Bass Strait became began Bendigo Blainey British building built bushfires Cain Canberra Catholic century Chinese churches colony Commonwealth Country Party Dandenong decade diggers districts drought Dunstan early election electorates England factories farmers farms federal fire football gardens Geelong Gippsland gold rushes goldfields half harvest held Henry Bolte Hill horse immigrants John John Cain Labor Party land later Liberal Library of Victoria lived London Mallee Melbourne Melbourne's Mildura miles miners Mount Macedon newspapers numbers Park parliament perhaps plains political politicians population Port Phillip Bay premier prime minister railway river road rural sailing schools seat sheep ships South Melbourne South Wales sport squatters station Street suburban suburbs summer Sydney Tasmania thousands town train trams University of Melbourne Victoria vote western wheat women wool Yarra young