Shortlisted, Historical and Critical Studies Prize, Western Australian Premier's Book Awards 1998 'In this deftly innovative survey, Frank Broeze draws the reader's attention away from the landmass to the oceans that surround it, and then back to the shoreline, ports and beaches. There have been previous studies of Australians and the sea, but this is our first fully amphibious account.' Professor Stuart MacIntyre The story of Australian people is a story of the interaction of land, cities and the sea. Land and cities have received ample attention but the role of the sea is an integral part of our national experience and has remained largely unexplored. Island Nation sets out to restore the sea to its rightful place in Australia's history. It offers an alternative account of the past and opens new windows on the forces that have shaped our present. Island Nation traces the profound, diverse and all-embracing influence of the sea on Australian society - an influence that extends far beyond the coastline. In this story of the interactin of people and the sea, three major issues emerge: controlling sea space, taming distance, an
