An interdisciplinary approach, integrating a rich body of scholarship and drawing upon a range of resources including maps, novels, poetry, art, diaries and reports, giving the book a comprehensive nature. Targets the emerging Australian Studies market, whilst also feeding into Indigenous Studies. Goes beyond general histories or specific aspects of the national story, to introduce the history and geography along with politics, cultures, and key socio-political shifts. A fresh engagement with Australia's history and geography, with a focus on mid to late twentieth century, including the impact of social movement and globalisation, environmental issues, gender, race, sexuality and ethnicity, whilst also engaging with broader socio-political issues.

The Story of Australia provides a fresh, engaging and comprehensive introduction to Australia's history and geography. An island continent with distinct physical features, Australia is home to the most enduring Indigenous cultures on the planet. In the late eighteenth century newcomers from distant worlds brought great change. Since that time Australia has been shaped by many peoples with competing visions of what the future might hold. This new history of Australia integrates a rich body of scholarship from many disciplines, drawing upon maps, novels, poetry, art, music, diaries and letters, government and scientific reports, newspapers, architecture and the land itself, engaging with Australia in its historical, geographical, national and global contexts. It pays particular attention to women and Indigenous Australians, as well as exploring key themes including invasion/colonisation, land use, urbanisation, war, migration, suburbia and social movements for change. Elegantly written, readers will enjoy Australia's story from its origins to the present as the nation seeks to resolve tensions between Indigenous dispossession, British tradition and multicultural diversity while finding its place in an Asian region and dealing with global challenges like climate change. It is an ideal text for students, academics and general readers with an interest in Australian history, geography, politics and culture.