Since 1973 the NAA has published a number of books on unique shipping topics, available to subscribers at reduced rates. The books below are recent releases. See here for more NAA books!
HUDDART PARKER: A Famous Australasian Shipping Company 1876-1961
Published November 2008: While writing a history of Huddart Parker, Auckland maritime historian Bill Laxon regrettably became ill and died. His draft script was taken over and completed by three of his friends - Howard Dick, Ian Farquhar and Tom Stevens. The 248-page book is the first definitive history of this important Melbourne-based shipowner. Huddart Parker was not only a famous Australian interstate shipping company but also the only one to maintain a passenger line to New Zealand. Its coastal liners Westralia and Zealandia, trans-Tasman liners Ulimaroa and Wanganella and Bass Strait ferries Nairana and Taroona were all household names.
The company also operated a fleet of interstate cargo ships, tugs at Melbourne and Port Adelaide, and excursion steamers on Port Phillip Bay. Besides shipping, it owned large coal mines, had shareholdings in many other companies, and was a pioneer investor in domestic aviation. This book records the history from the arrival of the founders during the gold rush of the 1850s, through the establishment of the company in 1876 to its takeover and withdrawal from shipping in 1961.
There are appendices on the Bay excursion
trade, James Huddart's Canadian Australian Royal Mail Line, personalia, shore
offices, tugs, collieries and the company's venture into aviation, as well as a
detailed fleet list and comprehensive index. It is a soft-cover publication
(250 x 176 cm) of 248 pages with 135 illustrations of virtually all the cargo
and passenger ships, Bay steamers and tugs. The retail price is $45.00 but
subscribers to THE LOG are offered the book at the special price of $35.00
(both prices inclusive of postage and packing to any address in Australia).
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AUSTRALIAN MERCHANT SHIPS - 2008
A major update of the 2005 edition, illustrated and in full colour
Compiled by Malcolm Dippy and Tony Starke
ISBN 978-0-9756896-2-2
Australian Merchant Ships - 2008 is an alphabetical listing of 774 current Australian flag merchant vessels of all types greater than 100GT or 25m length. Information includes vessel type, gross tonnage, length, propulsion and speed, owner, port of registry, builder, location and yard number, official number and previous names and dates.
Specific information on vessels is added where applicable and previous names are separately indexed. Murray-Darling River vessels have their own listing. Colour photographs of 59 representative ships are included. Australian Merchant Ships - 2008 is A4 size with 56 pages and card covers, and fills a real need in the absence of any commercial, government or other publication on the subject. Information available to May 2008 is included. Sample entries:
COMPENDIUM OF AUSTRALASIAN MERCHANT SHIPS 1831-2008
A listing of non-sail-powered Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific merchant ships
By Robert (Bob) Tompkins
ISBN 978-0-9599079-9-5
This is the first single reference source listing the technical details and histories of a large number of Australasian merchant ships since the first steamer arrived in Australia in 1831 through to the present time. An A4 landscape solidly bound soft cover book of 316 pages with 7,500 entries, this landmark work contains far more information on the subject than any previous publication. It is a 'must have' for anyone or any library, maritime museum or other organization wishing to have ready access to such information on Australasian ships.
Over his lifetime up to his death in 2006, Bob Tompkins, a former NAA President and Committee Member, built up this large body of information on Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific ships over 45 feet in length. Where the information could be obtained, the record includes gross tonnage, year built, ship type, dimensions, builder, build location, original owner and subsequent names and owners and periods of ownership, as well as final fate. For easy reference ships are listed separately under each name under an Australasian flag. By including vessels down to 45 feet in length the book provides information on large numbers of ships not included in most readily available sources and this adds greatly to its value. Since Bob's death the text has been extensively reviewed and updated to the beginning of 2008 by the Secretary of the NAA, Peter Cundall, adding to the final result.
This publication is a tribute to Bob Tompkins
and marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the NAA in 1968.
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Nautical Association of Australia Inc.
ABN 18 382 946 943