What a Capital Idea – Australia 1770–1901 lifts the lid on the Australian story and presents a comprehensive and detailed record of the country’s history.Author Christopher Reynolds explains: “What a Capital Idea is not just another history book that runs through the events of Australia’s history since settlement. I thoroughly investigate the reasons for political and commercial decisions – chasing down the money trail and looking for the context and people behind events like never before.”Reynolds uses his wide-ranging knowledge to analyse original legislation, documents and personal accounts, revealing the political, social and economic forces that created and moulded Australia’s development. By exploring historical events through sociology, law and political science, the book brings breadth of perspective and depth of consideration to the story. Its focus on economic development makes this work distinctive. The research challenges the prevailing narrative of Australia’s history, while an accessible style draws readers on like a novel.ISBN: 978-0-6489715-3-5
Format: Hardcover · 500 pages
Published: May 2024
Publisher: Reynold Learning
Language: English
Size: 8 × 10 in. / 203 × 254 mm
Australia’s development as a civilisation is not only a story of innovation and progress, but also a story of people.Leaders and Larrikins presents 20 stories about people who helped form this country’s growth and character: people of faith and hope, tenacity and vision. Their dreams—and sometimes simply their need to survive—led to prosperity, progress, discovery and political evolution. The Australian story is about people who helped others and gave of themselves, about being a mate or “having a go”—qualities that came to characterise Australians. The larrikin streak also left its mark on the nation’s personality.Dr Reynolds takes actual events and meetings from the lives of historical characters and creates dialogue around their interactions. Readers get to meet these people and enter their lives in a new way, including Arthur Phillip, Matthew Flinders and Caroline Chisholm.Meet the men and women who influenced Australian character: explorers, entrepreneurs and politicians, alongside battlers, adventurers and larrikins. These stories include people who gave of themselves to others and people who gave extraordinary support to Aboriginal people in turbulent times.Once you start reading this amazing book, you won’t be able to stop.
A Capital Idea, Two Visions: The long road to Federation
Concept artwork for this story. Wentworth and Clark belonged to different generations and never met. What did self-government mean in colonial Australia, and what kind of federation should follow? From William Charles Wentworth’s campaigns in New South Wales to Andrew Inglis Clark’s constitutional work in Tasmania, the answers were argued over for generations. Imagine opening […]
Colonel Lachlan Macquarie was no stranger to a lively celebration, but when he stepped into the chaos of Sydney in January 1810 as Governor of New South Wales, he quickly discovered that the Colony was steeped in corruption beyond comparison. In fact, it made Dodge City seem like a child's playground. This stark reality set […]
Australia's First Christmas by Christopher Reynolds What a Capital Idea - Australia 1788-1901 Captain David Collins, Judge Advocate for the Colony, reports that on Thursday, December 25, 1788 “the Christmas Day was observed with proper ceremony. Mr. Johnson preached a sermon adapted to the occasion, and the major part of the officers of the settlement […]
[Information is derived from What a Capital Idea – Australia 1770-1901 by Christopher Reynolds] When considering establishing a military base and civil society in New South Wales, the British, as the most developed and advance nation on earth, had previously purchased land, paid stipends to rulers – as it did in India, or signed treaties […]
MEDIA RELEASE WHAT A CAPITAL IDEA -Australia 1770-1901 Was there an Invasion? Why didn’t Aborigines get a Treaty? Did Aborigines have Sovereignty over the Land/? Was there a secret plan behind the Settlement in Australia? Why was Arthur Phillip made an Aborigine? Did the Eureka Stockade advance Australian Democracy? […]
Two coachmen drove their four horse carriage around the corner to enter St. James Street, Westminster. It was 10.00 pm. An autumn evening in late October, 1786. A warm mist filled the London streets. The coach, with its gold crest of the House of Townshend on the carriage door, pulled to an abrupt halt outside […]
Captain Arthur Phillip worked as a spy for the Secret Service of the Office of War and the Colonies, under Secretary of State, Lord Sydney. Arthur Phillip was paid the equivalent to a navy admiral’s salary for his employment as the Governor of New South Wales and went home with some US$3 million (at today’s […]
Harold Underhill stepped from the coach at the docks of Plymouth Harbour, England. It was July, the summer of 1843. The sea air was fresh. The sun danced across the water providing a morning glow as seagulls circled the dock looking for scraps of food. Harold’s trip down from Birmingham had concluded without incident, despite […]
I was sitting at the bar in a Sydney hotel and the fellow next to me said, “I was saddened to here that Queen Elizabeth had passed away. She was a great Christian and a world leader. She was loved by millions of people across the world. I can’t believe She has gone. But I […]
I was sitting at the bar in a Sydney hotel and the fellow next to me said, “I read that Shane Wayne has been recongised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List as an officer of the Order of Australia. It was a real shame that Shane Warne passed away so tragically. He was probably […]
I was sitting at the bar in a Sydney hotel and the fellow next to me said, “I heard that some green bloke said the Australian flag was a symbol of lingering pain and then his green lady friend said that it represented dispossession, massacre and genocide. I mean this sounds like treason to me. […]
The Bugle By Christopher Reynolds In a small country town In the back of beyond I stopped to take a look around The antique shop And search for treasures unfound I wandered down aisles Of junk and dust Of glassware on sideboards And tools against walls So many things hidden So many things just lost […]
Australia’s origin story has a few surprises in it Convicts. Gold. French spies. British money. And a country built around a plan most of us were never taught. You know the standard version: Britain needed somewhere to send convicts, so it started a colony on the other side of the world. End of story. But […]
Meet Dr. Christopher Reynolds, an extraordinary Aussie who's done it all—from working with President Ronald Reagan to running the Sydney World Trade Centre. His book, *What a Capital Idea*, takes you on an exciting journey through Australia’s history, focusing on how money and political maneuvers shaped the nation between 1770 and 1901.
At 500 pages, it’s packed with engaging stories that make history fun and relatable. Imagine having a chat with a wise friend who cracks jokes while debunking common myths. Dr. Reynolds inspires you to view Australia with fresh eyes and feel hopeful about the future.
Dive into *What a Capital Idea* and get ready to explore a new perspective on your country’s past—it might just ignite your own dreams for the future!
