Coming soon – the book Hidden Hamilton

There’s a big event coming up, for everyone who loves Hamilton, has a connection with Hamilton, or who simply wants to know more about one of the oldest suburbs of Newcastle. The book Hidden Hamilton, featuring popular stories from the blog, will be published in November, 2014.

  

My publisher, Hunter Press (Mark MacLean and Christine Bruderlin) and I have been working extremely hard over many months to bring these stories to you in book form. That’s why I’ve not been keeping up my schedule of new blog posts, in case you’ve wondered...

Filled with historical and contemporary photographs, it’s a gorgeous production that will make an ideal Christmas gift. No, I’m not biased!

Invitations will go out closer to the time of the launch, but you may like to note the date: 5-7 pm on Tuesday 11 November, at Three Bean Espresso, Hamilton. Carol Duncan, of ABC Radio Newcastle will do the honours.

The launch will be RSVP, as it is a catered event, so don’t miss out. It is sponsored by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, with sound by Fordtronic Video and Sound.

In the meantime, Hunter Press has a special pre-order offer for Hidden Hamilton on their website  here. Delivery is free, and it is an offer not to be missed.

I started this blog in May, 2013, six months after moving to Newcastle. The past 18 months have been a roller coaster ride for me – not only because of my own discoveries about Hamilton – but also because of the enthusiastic interest people have shown in what I’m sharing.

This has been a real community venture, with so many people contributing their stories and photographs, or helping in different ways. Local photographers Craig Smith and Matthew Ward have freely lent their time and expertise to re-photograph Hamilton sites that I'd just snapped on my phone. Through Facebook and Twitter, I am learning about the power of communities that spring up around common interests and passions, and how willingly people give and become involved.

When I first started to talk with Mark and Christine of Hunter Press about publishing a book, we agreed that we wanted to produce a quality product that would be beautiful to look at, to read, and to keep. At the same time, we wanted to set an affordable price. Enter Lynn Mangovski, who has been a tireless advocate of the Hidden Hamilton blog since it began. The result – generous sponsorship from the Greater Building Society, which has been in Hamilton for my lifetime – since 1945.

I hope you enjoy the book every bit as much as the blog, and thank you as always, for your loyalty and support.