Tony Matthews
Tony's Tower
This is the 'mountain' of books researched and written by Tony Matthews including several twin-volume histories and one triple-volume history.
The twin-volume history at the bottom of the pile: 'Heartbreak Hope and Harmony' (at 850,000 words) is believed to be the largest regional history in Australia, written by a single author (and all done with two fingers!)
Tony Matthews is a committed vegan and animal rights supporter (and has been for almost forty years). He was born in Swansea, South Wales, where he was educated at the independent school, Clevedon College. He subsequently travelled extensively through the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean while continuing his tertiary education externally.
In 1972, after almost a year in the West Indies, particularly at the beautiful and historic colonial city of Port of Spain, Trinidad, he arrived in Australia where he soon totally immersed himself in studying and writing about Australia's history and heritage. He worked in the television industry for many years, writing, producing and directing, and during that time wrote a number of highly acclaimed historical documentaries which were broadcast on the Seven Network and ABC Television. His first book, This Dawning Land, followed in 1986. Since then Tony has become a full-time author and has written more than thirty published books, thirteen television documentaries and approximately five hundred programs for ABC Radio and community radio stations around Australia. His second book, Crosses, Australian Soldiers in the Great War, remained on Queensland’s best-selling list for thirteen consecutive weeks following its release in 1987. One of his more recent local histories, Landscapes of Change, has received warm acclaim from academic institutions such as the Australian National University in Canberra. A copy of this history is now on deposit with the historic Bodleian Library at Oxford University while other books written by Tony are held in the collections of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. In 2004 his twin volume history of the Chinchilla Shire, Footsteps Through Time, was awarded a ‘Special Mention’ in the Australian Cultural Studies Awards for, ‘...an outstanding contribution to Australian culture’.
Tony Matthews’ books and articles have been published in Australia, England, the United States and New Zealand and his television documentaries are widely distributed to schools, universities, colleges and libraries across Australia. One of his books, Shadows Dancing, which was originally published in England and America, was translated and released in Czechoslovakia in 2005. It was re-released in London under the title: Spies for Nippon in November 2010.
Tony's series of Queensland and Australian colonial histories has been extraordinarily successful; the books have become best sellers for their publisher, Central Queensland University Press, and have been serialised for radio. The radio series has been relayed by satellite to community radio stations around Australia. Former publisher, the late Professor David Myers of Central Queensland University Press, commented that Tony:
... is clearly as gifted a writer in the literary sense as he is persistent and probing in his capacity as historical researcher. He is extraordinarily good at working to deadlines and produces finished products which are always ahead of schedule. His books have rapidly worked their way to the top of the best-sellers' list in Central Queensland University Press and we are proud to have him as one of our very best authors. He writes lucidly for a broad audience and this is why he is so popular.
Tony Matthews is a former lecturer of the Hervey Bay campus of the University of Southern Queensland.
The following is a listing of (most of) the works written and produced by Tony Matthews:
TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS:
WRITER/PRODUCER:
This Dawning Land. Ep 1. A pioneer history of Maryborough (Q) 1842 to 1915. Broadcast by SEQ Television and the Seven Network.
This Dawning Land. Ep 2. A history of the Gympie gold-rush, 1867 to 1915. Broadcast on SEQ Television and the Seven Network.
This Dawning Land. Ep 3. A history of Bundaberg and District. Broadcast by SEQ Television and the Seven Network.
Crosses, Australia’s war experience 1914-18. Broadcast nationally on A.B.C. Television’s Australian Impact series twice.
Black Death, Australia’s outbreak of pneumonic plague.
WRITER/DIRECTOR:
Dark Cargoes, a History of the South Sea Island Labour System.
Centaur, Death of a Hospital Ship.
The Mandarins of New Golden Mountain, a History of the Chinese in Australia.
Images and Reflections, Perspectives of Italian Australians.
Last Breath, the Life & Death of a Wildlife Artist.
COMMISSIONED DOCUMENTARIES:
WRITER/DIRECTOR:
Panorama of Progress, Maryborough, Queensland 1998.
The Last of the Bullockies, Wondai Shire Council. 1998.
With Character and Learning, A History of the Rockhampton Grammar School.
PUBLISHED BOOKS
This Dawning Land, A history of oppression in Queensland. Boolarong Publications, 1986.
Crosses, Australian Soldiers in the Great War. Boolarong Publications, 1987.
Beyond the Crossing, A history of Dalby and District. Dalby Town Council, 1988.
Cry of the Stormbird, historical novel, Elephas Press, 1990.
Shadows Dancing, a history of Japanese espionage against the West, 1939-1945. Published by Robert Hale, London November 1993, and by St Martin’s Press, New York in April 1994, and released in Australia in May 1994). Czech Republic, 2005; re-released in England under the title of Spies for Nippon, November 2010.
River of Dreams, Volume One. A history of Maryborough. (Maryborough City Council), published in two 350 page volumes in September 1995.
River of Dreams, Volume Two. see above.
A Cleft of Diamonds, historical novel, Seaview Press, 1996. RELEASED BY QUEENSLAND NARRATING SERVICE AS AN AUDIO BOOK IN DECEMBER 2019.
The Coffee-pot Mill, A history of the Elgin Vale steam-powered sawmill. Kilkivan Shire Council, published 1997.
Landscapes of Change, Vol. I, 505p. A history of the South Burnett, South Burnett Local Government Association, 1997.
Landscapes of Change, Vol II, 495p. See above.
Letters, Deaths and Dialogue, A novel of the Spanish Civil War. Seaview Press, 1998.
Mayhem and Murder in Pioneering Queensland, True Stories of Real Crimes and Mysteries, CQU Press, 2000.
Shipwrecks and Seafarers’ Scandals, True Tales from Colonial Queensland and the South Pacific, CQU Press, 2000.
Bearing the Palm, A History of The Southport School, commissioned by The Southport School, published 2000.
Blackguards and Scoundrels of Colonial Queensland, True Stories of Crime, Passion and Punishment, CQU Press, 2001.
True Blue Queenslanders, Heroes, Heroines & Battlers, published by CQU Press, 2001.
Gold, Graves & Gallows, Crimes and Calamities on the Colonial Goldfields, CQU Press, 2002.
Footsteps Through Time, A history of Chinchilla Shire, Volume I, 609p. 2004
Footsteps Through Time, A history of Chinchilla Shire, Volume II, 600p. 2004
Footsteps Through Time, A history of Chinchilla Shire, Volume III, 322p. 2009
Murder & Misadventure, Terrifying True Tales From Australia's Past, published by CQU Press, 2005.
Heartbreak, Hope & Harmony, A history of Wondai Shire, Volume I, 787p. 2008
Heartbreak, Hope & Harmony, A history of Wondai Shire, Volume II, 783p. 2008
Tapestry of Time, The Bill and Barbara McCutcheon Story, 2016
Murder, Mystery and Massacre, Chilling Stories from our Pioneering Past, published by Boolarong Press 2017.
A Dawn with no Birdsong (novel), published by Boolarong Press, 2018
Tragedy at Evian - How the World Allowed Hitler to Proceed with the Holocaust, Published by Big Sky Publishers in Australia (2020) and Pen and Sword Books in the United Kingdom.
Quiet Courage - Forgotten Heroes of World War Two. Published by Big Sky Publishing, 2021.
Sea Monsters - Savage Submarine Commanders of World War Two. Published by Big Sky Publishing, 2021.
Entombed - Six Men Buried Alive for Six Years. Published by Big Sky Publishing, 2021.
RADIO PROGRAMS AND DOCUMENTARIES
The Way We Were, Queensland history. There are approximately one hundred and ten programs in this ABC Radio series.
Murder by Misadventure, ABC Radio documentary based upon the mysterious deaths of the Bailey Brothers.
The Ridge, a Letter from Flanders, 1917. (Fiction) ABC Radio and 3ZZZFM Melbourne. Rainbow FM 1998.
Bert Hinkler, series of five programs for ABC Radio.
This Strange and Hostile Shore, series of 30 programs — Australian explorers and pastoralists. ABC Radio.
The Life and Times of Gladys Moncrieff, series of 10 programs for ABC Radio.
Brown Sugar White Gold, a series of 10 programs dealing with the South Sea Island labour trade.
What Passing Bells, ABC Radio documentary concerning the personal experiences of Australian soldiers in the Great War.
Bizarre Tales From Our Past, series of 20 ABC Radio programs.
A Splendid Carelessness, ABC Radio documentary, the escape of three British Officers from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Hong Kong during the Second World War, (interviewing Colonel Tony Hewitt).
Rascals, Rogues & Rotters, series of 10 programs for ABC Radio.
This Savage Shore, series of 10 programs for ABC Radio.
Pioneer Tales, 60 episodes for ABC Radio, Toowoomba, Darling Downs Region.
Forgotten Soldiers of the Hermit Kingdom, ABC Documentary, Australia’s participation in the Korean War.
Silent Cities, ABC Radio Documentary, the sinking of the Bismarck.
Strange Tales From Our Past, series of 10 programs for ABC Radio.
Salute to Anzac, series of 10 programs based upon Australia’s military history for ABC Radio.
COMMUNITY AND OTHER RADIO written, produced & narrated.
Mayhem and Murder in Pioneering Queensland, serialised from the book of the same name, and now relayed via satellite to radio stations across Australia.(24 episodes)
Shipwrecks and Seafarers’ Scandals, True Tales from Colonial Queensland and the South Pacific, serialised from the book of the same name, and now relayed via satellite to radio stations across Australia. (24 episodes)
Blackguards and Scoundrels of Colonial Queensland, serialised from the book of the same name, and now relayed via satellite to radio stations across Australia.(24 episodes)
Highly successful book-launch
The book launch of
Footsteps Through Time, which took place at Chinchilla in 2004.
Hundreds of people attended the event and almost $20,000 worth of books were sold that night.
(Tony Matthews signing books, centre right).