Australian History
Book Details

Good Things Came From Glass

A History of Glass Making in Australia 1812--1987

Mal Harrop

'An obituary for the golden era of manufacturing in Australia' Professor John Poynter, University of Melbourne

Awards

Shortlisted for the Blake Dawson Prize for Business Literature, 2008.

Opinion

'An original and fascinating glimpse into an emerging corporate giant' Dr Tony Webster, University of Central Lancashire

'An obituary for the golden era of manufacturing in Australia' Professor John Poynter, University of Melbourne

About this Title

This compelling account of the rise and demise of a great Australian industrial icon is the result of a lifetime interest and 10 years research and writing by a 73 year old first time author with a passion for his subject. He traces the country's glass making history from the vicissitudes faced by the 12 imported British glass blowers whose efforts created an industry to the foreign takeover of ACI International ,the iconic Australian manufacturing giant which was founded on glass.

While introducing many of the colorful characters and events associated with the glass industry, this history also records some of the significant economic and strategic achievements which the manufacturing sector as a whole has made to Australia's growth and development. While not quite concluding that a dozen glass blowers achieved more than several hundred economic theorists, the history does question the political process which has left the country with little Australian-owned secondary industry and a corresponding reduction in skilled labour.

About the Author

Mal Harrop has made Blackpool rock, spied on the Russian Black Sea fleet and played on Cambridge college football teams with Peter Cook. The glass industry brought him to Australia in 1970 and he is now a passionate Aussie. Among his many passions are the environment sport, jazz and education; a quadrella of interests which saw him receive an OAM in 1996. High among his remaining obsessions are a wish to see the glass industry and its pioneers recognised for their contribution to the growth of our nation and a family of whom he is inordinately proud.

978-0-522-85576-0