Out-of-print and highly sought after

From early pre-colonial times to wartime to tourist destination, Cleverly pictures the moods and identities of the waterways. Profusely illustrated with detailed text. A delightful read in a most elegant design. 

Two editions

Hardback 360 pp. 100+ photos cover wrapper intact. Very Good  condition ex-library copy with 'Withdrawn' stamp

Paperback 360 pp. approx. 100 photos. some colour. pub. 2009 UNSW Press.  Very Fine condition

choose below

The stirring tale of the history then abandonment then recovery and the massive task of complete restoration to full seaworthiness. The full story one of SHF's group of operating steamers.

Cutaway colour drawings, section drawings of machinery.   Full specifications

Soft cover 32 pp. approx 30 photos mostly B&W

very good condition carries dedication

The stirring tale of the history then abandonment then recovery and the massive task of complete restoration to full seaworthiness. The full story one of SHF's finest possessions by one of the workers

Drawings, old documents 

Soft cover 90 pp. approx 100 photos mostly colour many "people" photos taken during restoration

Two copies.

One in very fine condition 

One in good condition apart from some creasing of corners

Make your choice here    >

A number of historic documents and magazines produced as the vessel was recommissioned  

lncludes two papers presented at the Royal institution of Naval Architects and the Wooden Boat Association  by Mori Flapan . A bonus is the two period magazines of the early 70s

A fascinating browse and valuable history in the academic papers

A study of the ships and methods world-wide as at 1947

224 pp. maps drawings and .many photos. D pics of species

hard cover fair cond.

A detailed year by year account of the sad ends suffered by so many ships. All is here; the dates the circumstances the aftermath. 

C5 size 198 pp.  approx 50 photos all B&W some drawings some maps

A valuable history and absorbing read.

Booklet style about the author's life in the 20s and 30s in Australia 

An enjoyable account of his many adventures (not all maritime)

140  pp. some photos all B&W

soft cover very good cond.

A history not of signals themselves but of the really significant ones made in times of crisis and the events involved

252  pp. some photos B&W many drawings

soft cover fair cond.

83 pp. many line drawings

hard cover fair cond.

48 pp. many photos and line drawings

soft cover Fine cond.

Click on the photos at left to read a synopsis.

A very readable study of the  magnificent Great Barrier rRef, and the threats facing it, by a skin diver, and passionate advocate of its conservation. Factual not a diatribe.

388 pp. some photos B&W and 16 page colour photo section.  Beautifully presented book would make a useful gift to an interested sea goer.

Large clear type making it a pleasure to read.

Very fine condition, as new

From a prolific maritime writer author of Cook, Fatal Storm etc.

360 pp. 12 page colour section of paintings drawings and documents 

hard cover with protector

Very Fine condition pub. 2010 Hachette

 The whole story from inception, intriguing early designs, to the present day

Many photos drawings cartoons , posters

120 pp.  over 150 illustrations hard cover

Fine condition some creasing of dust cover only  pub. 1982 Allen and Unwin

A full 164 years before Cook, a tiny Dutch ship followed the northern coast of Australia

64 pp. soft cover many maps illustrations and paintings

Fair condition

The title says it all but rest assured this is a deeply researched story of the family and their magnificent lighthouses around the coast of Britain. Including the heroic Bell Rock, in the Firth of Forth.  How each was built amid sometimes horrendous sea conditions. 

Photo and drawing section, map. Index and Bibliography for further research

Two copies:

284 pp. soft cover . Fine condition with some sunning of pages. very slight dent at lower RHS cover

282 pp hard cover Very good condition. dust cover unmarked.

make your choice here: >

The complete account by the leader of the expedition to cross the Pacific from Callao to Rarioa Reef

298 pp hard cover in solid presentation case 

Very Fine condition.  map photo sections B&W. . Index 

War Peace and Big Ships

The author became commodore of the Cunard Line in 1948, after being made commander of Queen Mary in 1942 at the height of her service as troop carrier in WW11

An absorbing read with much historical and thrilling detail, by a seafarer who worked for the Merchant Marine in its heyday when Royal patronage was frequent

Very good condition in plastic protector

470 pp. some photos

A history of a company deeply woven into Australian shipping history. The men the ships and the cargoes, and war service.

160 pp. hard cover with dust jacket  fine condition. Many photos B&W 

All the ships of all types on the trans Tasman as at 1975

Very good 198 pp. hard cover with dust jacket  poor condition. Many photos B&W index, many tables

A very detailed study of the ship's history, the social background, its voyages and final loss. Then the discovery of the wreck and its exploration by remote controlled sub built by the discoverer of the Titanic. pub. 1995

228 pp. over 200 illustrations B&W and colour. Index

Hard cover Fine condition

A pictorial account of the ship's history, the social background, its voyage and final  discovery of the wreck and its exploration by remote controlled sub built by the author. pub. 1988

64 pp. over 100 illustrations B&W and colour. glossary and bibliography

Soft cover Fair condition

An illustrated  history of these vessels from 1913 on, under Lord of the Admiralty Churchill

150 pp. over 120 illustrations B&W . Fleet lists by year and class

Hard cover Very good condition index

This is no coffee table book!

A pictorial study of this class of Australian Navy vessels, 

80 pp. over 100 illustrations B&W . Fleet lists Aust and NZ

Soft cover Good condition

Robert Ballard is famous for developing a deep water submarine to discover and explore the wreck of the Titanic.

In this book he uses the sub. to locate and study the wrecks of battleships sunk during the fierce WWII  battle against the Imperial Japanese navy for the crucial island of Guadalcanal off the Philippines. Accompanying the search are surviving sailors from some of the  sunken ships.  Included is HMAS Canberra.

The story of the  sea and land battle, and its historical significance,  is given in detail.

Hardback 228 pages 100s of photos colour and historic B&W

Fine condition with a dent and small tear in the top RHS of dust cover

The Northern voyages.

A brilliantly readable account of all known voyages across the North Atlantic prior to 1660. Written with great good humour, debunking a few myths along the way.

A thorough history in a professional narrative style. many photos paintings and drawings, maps. full index.

710 pp. hard cover fair condition, dust jacket poor.

A big read for little outlay

From a very prolific maritime author incl.   "Fatal Storm"

A sought after publication, deeply researched. 16 page colour section. very large index

pub. 12013 ABC Books

464 pp. 24x16  size  very fine condition

A large format wide ranging look at maritime endeavour from C16 sea battles to container shipping and modern warships. Essentially pictorial but with much historical text and a good read.

192 pp. over 100 photos drawings and high quality paintings . Some maps

Fine condition

A valuable and entertaining firsthand account of the most turbulent years of the Sydney waterfront.

By a foreman wharfie who rose to be manager of his company.

pub 1974  250 pp.  some photos of work in the 30s 40s and 50s

Fine condition

Absorbing pictorial study of the many ports along this great seaboard of the Netherlands

Hard cover

More than 250  photos of the work the wharves and ships in the  50s and 60s

Good  condition torn dustcover

great browsing

Not strictly maritime.

Reminiscences of his time in Australia commissioned by the editor of the London Standard.

Amusing and insightful 

pub. 1907 240 pp. large clear type.

Fair condition some staining of cover scuffing of spine sunning of paper  but intact.

Deeply researched and highly readable as a history of a tough occupation.

160 pp. many drawings maps and tables.

Fine condition

Could be a coffee table book but definitely is not. 

From Lepanto, to the Armada to Midway in 1942 the causes and progress of each encounter are studied with accompanying detail on vessels, armaments and personnel. Many tables and diagrams.

Deeply researched fully illustrated mainly by artists' paintings and drawings, and from late 19th century by photos all B&W

302 pages. Hard cover Book condition very good. dust cover poor, torn and creased in places at rear

.Deeply researched fully illustrated mainly by artists' paintings and drawings, and from late 19th century by photos all B&W

70  pages. soft cover  condition very good. 

Includes numerous news items  from SHF plus many other absorbing articles. Produced to very high standards.

published by SHF 2013   32 pp. Good condition

Includes numerous news items  from SHF plus many other absorbing articles. Produced to very high standards.

published by SHF 2013   44 pp. Fair condition

Includes numerous news items  from SHF plus many other absorbing articles. Produced to very high standards.

published by SHF 2012   36 pp. Very Good condition

Includes numerous news items  from SHF plus many other absorbing articles. Produced to very high standards.

published by SHF Spring 2012   36 pp. New condition