Hale & Iremonger

Hale & Iremonger began in Australia in 1977, founded by Sylvia Hale, John Iremonger and Roger Barnes. From its early years, the company operated as an independent publisher with a list oriented toward Australian cultural, historical and political subjects. Its areas of interest included politics, urban history, women's studies and poetry, alongside biography, autobiography and literary scholarship. A significant early change came in 1980, when John Iremonger left the company to join Allen & Unwin. Hale & Iremonger nevertheless continued under its established identity and expanded its catalogue. The publisher's books documented both established and underrepresented aspects of Australian life, including women's professional experiences, the development of Sydney, early Australian poetry and the careers of notable writers and public figures. Among its historical and nonfiction publications were works on Australian women in print from 1788 to 1975, twentieth-century Sydney's urban and social history, and an annotated bibliography of Australian newspaper, magazine and almanac poetry published before 1850. The list also included studies and memoirs concerning women's lives and careers, as well as biographies such as Susan Magarey's study of Catherine Helen Spence. Poetry formed another important part of the house's identity. Hale & Iremonger published works by Rosemary Dobson, Antigone Kefala, Peter Skrzynecki and John Tranter, among others. Rosemary Dobson's The Three Fates & Other Poems subsequently received the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry in 1985. The wider author list included Doris Brett, Hazel Edwards, Ross Fitzgerald, Libby Gleeson, Robert Hughes, Grace Karskens, Mark O'Connor and Ron Pretty. By 2002, the company had published roughly 500 books. That year also marked a change in Sylvia Hale's public role, as she became involved in New South Wales state politics. In 2010, Michael Rakusin, formerly of Tower Books, acquired the Hale & Iremonger list. The available material does not provide enough information to determine the imprint's current operational status, ownership structure or publishing activity. Historically, however, Hale & Iremonger occupies a notable place among Australian independent publishers because of its sustained commitment to locally relevant scholarship, literary publishing and social history.

• 2010

  The publishing list is acquired

  [1]Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org

  Michael Rakusin, formerly of Tower Books, acquires Hale & Iremonger's publishing list.

• 2002

  The catalogue reaches approximately 500 books

  [1]Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org

  By the time Sylvia Hale became involved in New South Wales state politics, the company had published about 500 books.

• 1985

  A Hale & Iremonger poetry title wins the Grace Leven Prize

  [1]Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org

  Rosemary Dobson's The Three Fates & Other Poems, published by Hale & Iremonger, receives the Grace Leven Prize for Poetry.

• 1980

  John Iremonger departs

  [1]Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org

  Co-founder John Iremonger leaves Hale & Iremonger to join Allen & Unwin.

• 1977

  Hale & Iremonger is founded

  [1]Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org

  Sylvia Hale, John Iremonger and Roger Barnes establish the Australian independent publishing house.

Independent, culturally focused Australian publishing with a strong emphasis on history, politics, women's studies, biography, poetry and documentary scholarship.

• History and nonfiction

  Australian history and social history books

  Hale & Iremonger published research and interpretive works on Australian political, urban and social history. Examples included studies of twentieth-century Sydney and books examining the development of Australian public and cultural life.

• Nonfiction · 1979

  Women's studies and women's history

  The list included books focused on women's representation, work, professional experiences and historical contribution. Her Story: Australian Women in Print 1788–1975 and Against the Odds: Fifteen Professional Women Reflect on Their Lives & Careers illustrate this strand of the catalogue.

• Biography

  Biography and autobiography

  The publisher issued biographies and memoirs dealing with writers, reformers and public figures. Representative titles included a biography of Catherine Helen Spence and memoir writing by Ann Moyal and Douglas Stewart.

• Literary publishing

  Poetry

  Poetry was a sustained part of the Hale & Iremonger list, encompassing collections, selected poems and historically oriented literary scholarship. Authors published by the house included Rosemary Dobson, Antigone Kefala, Peter Skrzynecki and John Tranter.

• 2010

  Transfer of the publishing list to Michael RakusinM&A

  Background

  After decades as an independent Australian publisher, Hale & Iremonger's catalogue was transferred to Michael Rakusin, formerly of Tower Books.

  Action taken

  Rakusin acquired the Hale & Iremonger publishing list.

  Aftermath

  The available source confirms the transfer but does not establish the subsequent operating structure or current status of the Hale & Iremonger imprint.

  Source

1. 1Hale & Iremongeren.wikipedia.org