Changes to our book launch

Dear ,

We've had to make some changes to our launch of Christopher Reynolds' history of Australia "What a Capital Idea" as Hon Peter Dutton has had to cancel his appearance.

The book will now be launched by Professor James Allan, Australia's "most conservative law professor".

Jim is funny, ascerbic and insightful. He's also keen to defend what is right, whether it is popular or not an he's certain to crack more jokes than the opposition leader.

As a result of the cancellation we have also had to rethink the venue and price of the function.

It will now be held in our offices at 50 Logan Road Woolloongabba at the same time and date - Monday March 11 at 5:00 pm. Tickets will be $20 each cheaper.

To book click here.

This may also be the last function we hold in our offices as it looks like we are about to lose the auditorium. We've always been grateful to Lyn Brazil for the use of the premises, but just before Christmas he sold the building,

So not only is this a book launch, but it could be a time to celebrate the good times and great events we have hosted here in Woolloongabba.

What a Capital Idea – Australia 1770-1901, would be a fitting last hurrah for the site. It's an account of Australia which rather than relying on what other historians have said goes back to primary sources to see what was actually going on.

As a result Chris Reynolds rejects the theory that Australia was founded primarily as a penal colony and demonstrates that initial reason was mostly military, which in the days of mercantilism, meant commercial.

But if Great Britain were to claim the land, as Cook had purported to do in 1770, they had to actually work it. In most British colonies that was no problem as free settlers were always keen to emigrate, but prospects in New South Wales were so poor that none wanted to come.

So an experiment in prisoner rehabilitation filled the gap.

Chris has come to plenty more heterodox conclusions, and you'll come away with a wealth of information that the historical orthodoxy has misrepresented.

The function details are:

Date: March 11, 5:00 pm for 5:30 pm start until 7:00 pm.
Place: Australian Institute for Progress, Unit 2B, 50 Logan Road, Woollloongabba.
Cost: $35 general admission, $30 AIP members, $20 concessions and students
RSVP: Friday March 8, 5:00 pm

To book click here.

Regards,

GRAHAM YOUNG
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.