Australia: A History

by Tony Abbott

How an ancient land became a great democracy. Longlisted for Best Non Fiction in the Indie Book Awards 2026 'Tony Abbott should be congratulated ... This history of Australia is vivid, readable, provocative' Geoffrey Blainey, historian 'I think it's very good' Tom Holland, historian Australia is one of the world's great success a land long hidden from outsiders, chosen as a convict dumping ground, where - since 1788 - people from many backgrounds have built one of the freest, fairest and most prosperous countries on earth. By the standards of a harsher time, the early governors tried to respect the original inhabitants and to encourage the convict outcasts of the British Isles to make a new start to a better life. This Indigenous heritage, British foundation and immigrant character have shaped the land of the 'fair go' especially for those willing to 'have a go'. It's not perfect, even now, yet mostly we have a history to be proud of. Within a century of settlement, Australia had not only the world's highest standard of living but had become a global pioneer for democratic freedoms such as the secret ballot, the payment of MPs and voting rights for women. A country largely created by settlement and negotiation has evolved from 'White Australia' at the time of federation into one of the world's most colour-blind societies and has managed the transition from an old 'Anglo' identity to a civic patriotism based on an overriding commitment to Australia and its values. This book is intended to give anyone interested - as every Australian should be - an account of our past that's positive, while not oblivious to our mistakes and imperfections as a nation. If to be an Australian is still to have won the lottery of life, the history that's produced us is surely something to savour. Now a major TV documentary available to stream at Sky News Australia. PRAISE 'Tony Abbott's book is inspired by love of country, yet he comes to grip with our flaws. This is a fresh, powerful, highly readable single-volume history of Australia that deserves a wide audience' Paul Kelly, editor-at-large, The Australian 'Scholarly researched, scrupulously fair-minded and very engagingly written, this is big narrative history at its best. It explains why Australia is such a wonderfully unique place, and why history is all the better when written by those who themselves helped make it' - Andrew Roberts, author, Walking with Destiny 'Not quite the "white armband" version of history I was expecting in the first half, nor a "Liberal Party highlights package" in the second half. I enjoyed reading it' - Peter FitzSimons, author, Kokoda This is an immensely readable account of how - as I frequently call it - the "Australian Achievement" has been built' - Hon John Howard OM AC, former prime minister of Australia 'Tony Abbott's latest book is a powerful antidote to the poison of little and bad history ... we have much to be thankful for and to build on' Hon John Anderson AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia and leader of the National Party 'The former prime minister has done a good job with A History' Frank Bongiorno, historian 'if you have a serious interest in Australian history, the book will go on your shelves' Hon Kim Beazley AC, former deputy prime minister of Australia 'Tony Abbott has written with reverence and richness, bringing our nation's past, although both painful and proud, to life with striking clarity' Nova Peris OAM OLY, first Aboriginal-Australian Olympic gold medallist and former Labor senator 'This book is a compelling reminder of our inheritance, which gives us a reason to be proud of who we are and the country we've become' - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, federal senator for Northern Territory 'Tony Abbott brings history to life in a way that is both enlightening and deeply engaging' Brett Lee, former Australian international cricketer 'This book helps us rediscover our past with hon

Genres: History, Australia, Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2025

Reviews

[Darryl Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australia: A History is a concise, one-volume, hard-covered book which charts the history of Australia, from 50,000 years ago when it was discovered by our Indigenous people, to the time of the First Fleet and on to more recent times. Its author, Tony Abbott is a former prime minister of Australia as well as a former journalist so you would expect the writing to be sharp, the narrative informative, which it is. There is a foreword by historian Geoffrey Blainey in which he describes the book as vivid, readable and provocative. More importantly, the book provides a balanced view of Australian history, not the one-sided, skewered view we often hear from our academics and teachers. Despite his conservative background, there are positive reviews from all sides of Australian politics. This book should be compulsory reading for all students of Australian history and recommended reading for those who want to cut through the misinformation so common in today’s academia and media.

[Ben Isbel · Rating 2 out of 5]

the review will be mostly negative. i'll start with the good. abbott gives a great cursary look over of the last 250 years of Australias history. he lamely references fringe cultural wars as a need for this book: a positive view of settlement. who cares mate, anyone with a brain is turned off by tweets about how evil white settlers were. those nuts aren't going to read anything abott has to say.

through the scope of politics we explore all the big events and theres plenty of interesting tidbits. for example WA's famous attempted succession. the political context reveals a bit of a protest plebiscite with no teeth. they knew it was unconstitutional and not taken so seriously as the state government elected openly went to election against succession.

the bad. before abbott accuses me of being one of the 'intellectual elite' I am just a humble tradie, swing voter, who enjoys history. abbotts book is riddled with bias thats distasteful and hard to overcome. when his values are good - eg. volunteerism its easy to get over. when they arent eg stop venerating aboriginal culture his values are harder to dissever from the context.

the first 150 or so years of settlement no liberal party existed. yet ctrl F and you will see the word liberal appear more than any other word. our forefounders were so incredibly liberal that i liberally cant stand to hear the word liberal one more time.

abbott is no racist but certainly isnt a defender of aboriginal culture. Aboriginals 'settlers' came here over 10 000 years ago. he could've written over 40 000. but whats a few ten thousand really matter when it comes to historical accuracy.

if you're interested in how many days of lost labour we missed out on for certain years due to militant striking then his numbers are exact.

once we go post ww2 the book which swung between tolerable and enjoyable really becomes a hard slog. menzies and howard are in a two way tie for best pm of all time. apparently the reason howard lost in 07 was because he accomplished everything he wanted in his first terms, leaving nothing else to accomplish and spent too much of the public purse.

after 2000 there is no history and the book becomes a bitter recount of every slight. gillards lauded misogyny speech was a deflection. Turnbull is a 'harborside mansion owner' out of touch with moderates. human climate change is a hoax as evidenced by 1 large pre industrial hawksbury flood. mental illness corresponds with rising areligioness and to top it off Abott includes a quote by peadophile protector Pell.

the most interesting thing about the book is the revelation of abbott - the rhodes scholar. abott is competent at writing an essay. i can now reconcile this man with the shirt fronting onion eater afraid to appear on the lefty elite abc now. i dont disdain abbott. he seems down to earth and genuine about his values, kind of guy it'd be nice to chat with if politics doesn't come up. its a shame he couldnt seperate his personal biases for a better history but I dont regret reading this.

[Carolyn Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did a convict settlement in a distant country in 1788 become one of the world's success stories as a democratic country that believes in giving people 'a fair go' for those willing 'to have a go'?

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott presents a fresh look at Australian history, which focuses on the good, the bad and the ugly of past events.

Tony Abbott, a Rhodes Scholar and Federal Member of Warringah in the Australian Parliament from 1994 to 2019, also played a part in our history in recent times.

White settlers responsible for the Myall Creek massacre were put on trial for the deaths of Aboriginal men, women and children, who were considered 'British subjects'.

Aboriginal heritage, the British foundation and immigration have helped shape this nation - a history that Australians can be proud of, including being the first country to allow women to vote and the secret ballot.

This is a must-read for everyone interested in history, especially for school children who have been told for many years that Australia is a 'racist' nation.

A three-part documentary, Australia: A History, is now available on YouTube.

[Michael Seselja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I highly recommend this for anyone who (like me) has a very surface-level understanding of Australian history from what I learned at school. Further thoughts are below.

Tony Abbott describes the three key elements of Australia; a British foundation, an Indigenous heritage and an immigrant character. What he doesn’t make explicit is which of these should take precedence. The political left will claim it’s one of the latter two. But I think in the first part of his book our most recent conservative* Prime Minister makes a strong case for the British (and liberal) foundation being the most crucial to Australia’s identity.

Our early colonial institutions developed along British lines. Quite often things going on here were even more liberal than in the mother country (which was always pretty liberal compared to its continental counterparts). The transportation of convicts, although seeming harsh to modern eyes, is described as a great exercise in rehabilitation. For much of the nineteenth century, the traditional freedoms of the Englishman were replicated and even expanded on Down Under. (If you’ve ever spoken to me about politics you’re probably thinking “What’s Michael doing talking about liberalism like it’s a good thing?” Well I will save my critiques for another time.)

In the twentieth century, Abbott traces the development of the colonies into a nation that slowly begins to assert its own identity rather than merely serving as a British outpost. He spends a fair bit of time praising Menzies, Howard and Hawke as our greatest post-war leaders but doesn't have a lot of time for Paul Keating or Gough Whitlam.

Now for a couple of critiques. I wish he spoke more about his time as Prime Minister. Presumably he didn't want to make it into an autobiography but I would have enjoyed more of his perspective on how the big historical trends he spoke about interacted with the everyday decisions he had to make.

I also found the tone slightly too apologetic. By this I mean it sometimes felt like Abbott spent too much time trying to justify things to the modern left. For example, he seems at pains to discuss the few hundred ANZACS who weren’t white Anglo-Celtic men almost as much as the hundreds of thousands who were. Perhaps this is some attempt to make the point that the ANZACs were a much more diverse bunch than one may have thought. It’s hardly a book-ruiner though.

Overall this is a fine addition to the bookshelf. It’s genuinely got me more interested in Australian history so full credit for that. And there’s just something so cool about a history of a nation written by a person who shaped it and even led it for a time. 

*If I’m being really precise I would call Abbott a liberal with conservative tendencies. But I accept that most people would think of him as conservative, and he certainly is compared to the average Australian today.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Australia : A History (2025) by Tony Abbott is a very good one volume history of Australia by Australia’s twenty eighth Prime Minister. Abbott was also a Rhodes Scholar and writes well. The book has endorsements from people across the political spectrum in Australia including Kim Beazley, Bill Shorten and Peter FitzSimons. Abbott has written the book to provide a positive view of Australian history, but one that also discusses the blots on Australia’s past.

Decades ago I went through a phase of reading books by politicians. Wayne Swan, Mark Latham and others were churning out volumes. At the time I read Abbott’s Battlelines, which was a surprisingly well written book. The ideas presented were something of a hodgepodge but the writing itself was clear. In Australia : A History Abbott again shows his writing chops.

The book moves quickly with eighteen chapters covering Australia’s history from discovery to 2025. Abbott discusses the early settlement and how it worked, how convicts were quickly liberated and many became important citizens in the new colony. The discussion of the Gold Rush and how it changed Australia are good. Abbott writes well about the post gold rush era and how each of the colonies was governed and how they were mostly fairly liberal in outlook. The voting franchise in Australia was wide early in Australia. He points out the disagreements between protectionism and free trade and how that shaped discussions of Federation. Abbott also writes about how South Australia was one of the first places in the world where women voted.

Abbott doesn’t shy away from writing about mistreatment of Aboriginals and how the settlers treated them. Both well and awfully. He points out that there were missions which worked hard to help Indigenous Australians but there were also poisonings and hunts of Aboriginals.

The sections on the wars and Australia’s role in them emphasise Australian successes and also discuss how Australia’s role in the world changed through the wars. The interwar section is also interesting and discusses the rise of various guard groups with tens of thousands of members with many ex servicemen. These groups were on the left and right and could have plunged the country into conflict.

The post war sections up until the 1990s are well considered and Abbott goes through events and changes in Australia. In the 1990s the book begins to mention the author, which is interesting for a history book. The later sections include short notes on Abbott’s own time as Prime Minister. There is little anger in these sections. Finally Abbott states that he now sees Australia as a little adrift and without the drive to improve the economy that was such a feature of the Hawke, Keating and Howard years.

Throughout the book Abbott does emphasise the positive but not overly so. He makes the point very well that Australians have much to be proud of in their history. Anyone looking for a succinct history of Australia would do very well to read the book.

[Luke Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptionally presented title with refreshing tone and delivery. Many have unfairly looked at the author much the same way they have looked at Australian history - too narrowly. Abbott proves in this title he has a thorough and nuanced grasp of the uniqueness of the Australian story and its people. He is fair to his political or idealogical "opponents" and heroes alike - balanced in his telling of the facts as they have been and are, having praise for their praiseworthy efforts and a plain presentation of facts in regard to their missteps or failures. His declares his heart in the final chapter as pertains to issues related directly to him, but even this is measured and restrained, which is far more than can be said for most who would critique his time as Prime Minister. Overall a title that should receive attention from those who care for facts and are grateful for our country.

[Brandon Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have learned and read about different pockets of history of Australia but never a complete book to bring it all together. Really enjoyed it and all history nerds will get something out of it. I love the concept of Australia being a young country buy an old democracy.

TA felt that history and current affairs started to merge for him around 2000, but for me it was once he became a political figure in the early 90s. From there I felt he becomes a lot more opinionated and less down the middle and started to lose me as a reader.

[LindaMoctez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a refreshing take on the history of Australia. For too many years we have focussed on the evils of colonialism while ignoring the extraordinary achievements of our pioneers. Tony Abbott is in no way is an apologists for the crimes committed against the indigenous people, in fact he has outlined the crimes inflicted upon them in detail. He has also enlightened his readers as to the unique laws the British tried to practise in relation to their human rights. It was a serious crime of murder to kill an Aboriginal person, and the sentence was hanging. Unfortunately, he noted, too many escaped the noose and got away with their crimes.
Tony has done astonishing research for this book and he has made the information accessible to all who are interested in facts rather than the preconceived black armband view of this incredible country to which, it seems, the whole world want to emigrate. And he sees this success as a direct result of British law along with highly industrious, determined people who have largely maintained order and most importantly, a sense of humour.

[Michael G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, mostly positive, sensibly but sometimes over-nuanced history of Australia for the ordinary person, the intelligent layman. This is probably the style that the history of Australia, in general, should be taught: a positive narrative overall (which is very true) but not hiding the bad, though nonetheless putting in context. Well done Tony. This will likely sell better than other Australian histories, which can at times be a bit too wet and a bit too negative, and fundamentally, a bit too dishonest by being too wet and too negative.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone living in Australia, who is technically Australian by citizenship if not identity, I was interested in the revisionist (or anti-revisionist) take on this country from a man I know mainly for taking a big bite of an onion on TV. Irish people nowadays like to take pride in being the most marginalised White - colonised, enslaved, starved, impoverished, politically fractured by border conflicts — we have much in common with more glamourous oppressed sorts. I'm not writing that in a totally dismissive way—I still can't help being a nationalist, and solidarity for Palestine, to name one example, is something to take pride in—but Australia complicates the tale somewhat.

To put things in black and white, Australia was invaded on the 26th January in 1788 and from then on the way of life of its native people, who had lived there for up to 40,000 years, was irrevocably changed, and largely shattered and destroyed. A small island on the other side of the world 'discovered' the continent and decided it would be as good a place as any to send its criminal scum to, claiming ownership of the land as it went. Sounds pretty bad eh. But of course, the penal colony was largely populated by people who didn't want to be there, many of whom were Irish. And it just so happens that prison guards and English navy men can't hope to lock up and control, like a Panopticon, so many convicts as ended up settling Sydney. So there ended up with some degree of meritocracy - the convicts being mostly healthier than those in Britain and Ireland, and being able to go at their own enterprise. It's pretty amazing, and a good story.

The Australian identity doesn't exist without the Irish, but since it fermented and came to be before Ireland's successful nationalist movement, Abbott speaks of Australia as being of 'Anglo-Celtic' origin, which is as absurd as it is true. He laments that the Aboriginal flag is allowed to fly alongside the Australian, that a 'flag for some' is allowed to fly equal to 'a flag for all'. I'm not Aboriginal, and I guess I'm Australian, but I feel the Aboriginal flag is 'mine' more than the 'Union Jack plus some stars I guess'.

Yet my attitude is anachronistic, if that's the term—my Irishness supercedes my Australianness, and the great successes of Irish nationalist mythmaking, which lends itself comfortably to contemporary leftist sensibilities, is very different to the 'Anglo-Celtic' mythmaking of Abbott—but I know he's right, too. Ned Kelly was a great folk hero, but I'm sure many Irish people participated in 'frontier warfare' — clearing lands of native people to build one's farms. I have to recognise the Irishness in many Australians, too, even if I find the merging of Anglo and Celtic (Protestant and Catholic?) bizarre and, perhaps, disturbing!

Abbott's book isn't in black and white as I tried to outline above. It is very readable and makes a great many agreeable claims. One thing I can say from my direct experience living here is I think compulsory voting is great. I'm just a big fan of 'making' people do things for a social good. There's not enough fluoride in the water. (On the other hand, I think nobody except me should've been allowed to go out for a walk during the pandemic, so..) I also sympathise with Donald Horne's claim that Australia is a lucky country...run mainly be second-rate people who share its luck. The ellipsis was not added for elision but for my own dramatic emphasis.

A country that over a hundred years tried its best to stack the deck in the favour of a particular shade of white man is going to suffer from a certain lack of imagination. If you want to feel pride in an identity, claiming to be British is an automatic debuff. No need to make things so hard for yourselves, guys. It is an odd fact, too, that so large a chunk of Australian military history is a result of currying favour with one English-speaking empire or another. I'd love to see Mexico invade the Isle of Man on behalf of Spanish outrage over the occupation of Gibraltar. Abbott criticises the preoccupation with 'the politics of identity' of the contemporary Australian left, but Australia has always been a nation with a particularly confused and questionable identity. Prison guards and prisoners, a good portion of whom were locked up without cause. And the less said about the fauna the better?

It's a strange place, though you might not think that being here, since the weather's so good and the beer's so cold. And expensive. I don't think this is a great, edifying history book, but Abbott is at least provocative. The way Abbott writes, Australia was the most liberalist liberally liberal place to ever be liberated in until Melbourne in 2020. I don't think anyone can read the book without feeling an urge to push back against something or another, but it facilitates debate and discussion, and he does promote Australia as a great country—calling everything shit does get old fast, even if it's fun to call someone wrong for saying X is good. A decent read if not an ideal history book.

[Duncan Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a history of our democracy. Very interesting facts and figureheads explored and good to read a largely positive review of our great country.

Oh and if you expect hateful racism or glossing over the bad parts, think again. Tony is a big believer in civic nationalism, and all the multiculturalism that entails.

[Tim Allerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very refreshing recap of Australia’s history, with no excuses about our maltreatment of Aborigines and mistakes made by successive governments.
A must read for young Australians!

[Tim Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read and perhaps a tad too skinny on particular events or episodes that shaped our nation. Nonetheless, it provides a good overview with some surprising insights.

[Katherine Hooper · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just one big circle jerk about the colony. Something that should have stayed private not turned into a whole book.

[Dr Robert Stable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, honest, a must read

Excellent. A must read for all true Australians. Hopefully will help correct the untruths about our past. I loved the comment that immigrants must not see us as Hotel Australia.

[Mike R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got the audio version of this book, and I’m surprised how much I enjoyed listening to Tony Abbott for 15 hours, giving his take on Australia’s key historical developments.

Whilst I was never a fan of Tony during his political career (particularly due to his stance on climate policy), his love for the country and admiration for our Australian story comes resoundingly through this engaging narrative. His genuine concern for indigenous welfare is also apparent with a significant portion of the book addressing the evolution of indigenous policy.

Most of the high level historical developments in this book I was already familiar with, but I did benefit from a lot of the additonal detail.

I finished the book even more convinced of his central premise that we should be very proud of our national achievements.

My only slightly negative observations are:
- The book is primarily a political history, focusing on the evolution of our political leaders, parties and elections. Unsurprising given the author. It doesn’t address economic, social or sporting history in the same depth
- Much of the text is focused on the history of liberalism and the Liberal Party in Australia - a little too much. Also I have always found “liberal” a confusing term, particularly compared with the current use of the term internationally, particularly in the US. Eg Tony discusses the “protectionist liberals” and the “free trade liberals” in the early 20th century but I was ultimately quite confused by what he actually means by the term “liberal”

Despite that, it was a great book.

[Evan Micheals · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of interest and respect for Tony Abbott, the 28th Prime Minister of Australia. When he served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2015, I was at the height of my zeal for left-wing ideology, and Abbott epitomised everything I opposed. Tony Abbott was my enemy, despite my quietly admiring his spirit of public service through the Rural Firefighting Brigade, Surf Life Saving, and his response when he was assaulted by an inpatient while visiting a mental health unit.
More than a decade later, I find myself more sympathetic to his views and agreeing with some of them. Through this book, Abbott shows a deep love and respect for Australia. He declares:

“If, as this book tries to show, we have a history to be proud of, that’s because good people have made it so. Perhaps this account will encourage more of them to join our public life, to shape our future and to make our history” (p 306).

I read this as an immigrant and a new Australian wanting to understand my adopted country better. In the spirit of the phrase “history does not repeat itself but it rhymes” (Joseph Anthony Wittreich), I found the book helpful in gaining that understanding. I am surprised that time has brought me to admire Abbott as a person and to find his writing largely even-handed and fair.
Abbott acknowledges that Australia was one of the first democracies to grant voting rights broadly to men.

“In Australia, full adult male suffrage came two generations before Britain. In 1850, a New South Welshman who owned a small property or paid £10 annual rent qualified to vote. When prices and rents soared after the discovery of gold, almost all men living in town could vote. For city dwellers, this was manhood suffrage in all but name” (p 105).

We are often reminded that female suffrage did not occur until the early 1900s, but we sometimes forget that universal male suffrage had only emerged a couple of generations earlier. Universal suffrage effectively arrived within the lifetime of a young man first granted the vote in Australia—barely a blink in historical time and still very much part of a broader Western political project.

Abbott writes sympathetically about the conflicts that occurred with Indigenous peoples and acknowledges the role of the Native Mounted Police.
“Inevitably, expansion triggered resistance from Aboriginal clans. Parts of Queensland became conflict zones, but local Aboriginal people had little chance when pitted against units of the Native Mounted Police. Typically these consisted of three to eight Aboriginal troopers headed by a European officer. Recruiting some natives – to use the terminology of the period – to fight against other natives was a practice that went back to Roman times” (p 109).

I recently completed Caesar and Christ by Will Durant, which describes how Ancient Rome often paid “barbarians” to fight its wars (at least until the gold ran out).

I noted Abbott’s observation that the people who showed the greatest compassion for the treatment of Indigenous Australians were often those furthest away, usually in London. Those on the frontier—who experienced direct contact and conflict—were responsible for many of the deaths of Indigenous people. Frontier settlers feared for their lives and the loss of livestock while receiving little practical support from distant bureaucrats.

I can see contemporary parallels in the modern environmental movement. The “Green” movement tends to be strongest in inner-city suburbs far removed from the environment itself. Those who work directly in rural and environmental industries are often more inclined to vote for the National Party of Australia. Sometimes the people most distant from reality hold the strongest ideals about it.

Abbott repeats some of the traditional narratives about the Gallipoli Campaign, particularly regarding the success of the withdrawal.

“The withdrawal of troops from the peninsula was the most successful and ingenious element of the campaign. With remarkable efficiency and movement, all Australian soldiers were off the beaches by 20 December. Not a single Anzac soldier was lost in the two-day retreat” (p 162).

Accounts from the Turkish side suggest they knew the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps were withdrawing and allowed them to leave because they wished to avoid further bloodshed. If that is the case, the success of the withdrawal owed less to brilliance from the ANZAC command and more to chivalry from the Turks. Abbott openly acknowledges he is not a historian, which made me wonder whether this example might reflect a tendency to see only one side of certain events.

The Great Depression of the 1930s tested Australia and reflected what Abbott presents as an over-involvement of the state in people’s lives—something that may also rhyme with the present day.

“With almost £119 million due for redemption in 1930, governments scrambled to find the means to pay. At the end of the decade, the economist James Brigden lamented how ‘the present generation of wage earners in Australia has been brought up on the idea that its standard of living is a creation of Parliament” (p 189).

Abbott could almost be describing the present with this observation:
“The failure of the political class was not hard to see. The lurch to radical populism in New South Wales culminated with defaults on interest obligations in February and March 1931, leading to a rush of withdrawals from the Government Savings Bank of New South Wales” (p 198).

The echoes with contemporary politics are difficult to ignore.

Abbott writes glowingly about Joseph Lyons, who began as a Labor Prime Minister before forming the United Australia Party. Lyons demonstrated the courage to abandon his previous political position on principle.

“An election was called for December 1931. Lyons, having already toured the country stumping for his new brand of politics, was in prime position. His message was simple: that Australia had to restore confidence in itself and in its markets, an objective that was beyond party or sectional antagonisms” (p 199).

He was unwilling to pursue the agenda of the Labor Party when he believed it would harm the Australian people. Lyons placed the national interest above his career, and the electorate recognised this when they supported him in forming a new party. He became Prime Minister and ultimately died in office.

This type of conviction appears rare among contemporary politicians. I find myself agreeing with John Howard’s concern about the rise of the career politician, who often lacks the courage displayed by Lyons. I struggle to see a figure of similar conviction emerging today, which makes me pessimistic about the immediate future.

Abbott spends the final chapter, “Drifting Backwards,” partly justifying his time in office and his brand of conservatism while perhaps glossing over some of his missteps. In a sense, this may reflect the broader theme of the book: presenting Australia as a fundamentally good society—something I largely agree with—while not dwelling too heavily on its mistakes.

Still, we can do better. We need to restore confidence in ourselves and remember what has made Australia successful. Australia has long valued hard work, from its convict beginnings, and traditionally despised the bludger. It is a country where people can succeed if they are prepared to get along with others. The ideals of a “fair go,” the willingness to “have a go,” and the expectation that individuals contribute rather than rely entirely on the state have been central to the Australian character.

We may need to rediscover those values again.

[Nick Dorogavtsev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Abbott’s Australia: A History is not just a chronological record of events; it is a profound love letter to the nation. As a former Prime Minister, Abbott brings an insider’s nuance and a statesman’s perspective to the page, offering a narrative that is as intellectually rigorous as it is deeply patriotic.
A Balanced Reflection on the Australian Spirit.
What sets this work apart is its unwavering honesty. Abbott does not shy away from the "fails"—the policy missteps, the political upheavals, and the moments of national doubt. However, he balances these with our "wins," celebrating the grit, egalitarianism, and democratic stability that have defined the Australian project.
By viewing our history through the lens of political evolution, he successfully identifies the DNA of the Australian character:
* Resilience: How we navigated global conflicts and economic shifts.
* Practicality: The unique Australian approach to governance and law.
* Community: The "fair go" philosophy that underpins our social fabric.
Written with Respect and Insight.
Abbott writes with a palpable sense of respect for his predecessors on both sides of the aisle. He understands the weight of the office, and that empathy shines through when he describes the difficult choices faced by leaders from Barton to the modern era. His prose is clear, engaging, and devoid of the dry academic tone that often plagues historical texts.
"To understand where we are going, we must cherish where we have come from. This book is a testament to the belief that Australia is, and remains, a beacon of hope and a triumph of the human spirit."
Final Verdict.
Whether you are a political junkie or simply a proud Australian looking to understand the forces that shaped your home, this is essential reading. Tony Abbott has provided a sweeping, panoramic view of our past that manages to be both a critical analysis and a source of immense national pride.

[Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book incredibly frustrating at times. But it is an enjoyable, easy read, which is well written and well researched.

Premise:

I want to start by saying that I agree with the central premise of the book being - that Australia is a country with some great achievements that are worth celebrating, not some uniquely evil illegitimate colonial construct, which we have to be ashamed of.

There is acknowledgement of the atrocities of Australia's past which Abbott doesn't gloss over per say but there is far more emphasis on the good then the bad. Which yes, is the point he is trying to make.

Personally I think its quite easy to reconcile that Australia by most metrics is objectively a great country. But which has done objectively demonstrable things. One does not need to look far in any country's history to find its laundry list of perpetrated atrocities. We have it so good here that it becomes easy to forget how privileged we are or in Abbott's words "to be born Australian is to have won the lottery of life"

Frustrations:

Abbott most certainly has his biases and doesn't pretend not to. The book is relatively balanced especially at the start. But as the narrative progresses, his biases slip in increasingly more and more.

He fanboys over Menzies and Howard. At one point basically admits that Menzies did fuck all relatively to his 16 years in power - but that's actually what made him so great and successful actually.

In the last chapter which focuses on everything since 2000 he admits he no longer sees it as history but instead as current events. Which basically means he just uses the chapter to voice his grievances about how Australia is "drifting backwards", of course making sure to get his 2 cents in on his opponents such as Turnbull and Gillard. As well as his handling on issues such as "boat people", how human caused climate change is a hoax, why we shouldn't change the flag and finally the voice to parliament.

In the earlier parts of this book he incessantly refers basically anyone who does anything good or who makes any contributes to Australian democracy as being "liberal" or having "liberal attitudes".
This is so common its actually infuriating, he genuinely does not stop.

Its used mostly in the context of how Americans might think of the term towards the beginning, but he continues to use it to describe the Liberal Party. Most would agree the American and Australian contexts around the word "liberal" are completely different, but he never draws a distinction. This is almost certainly intentional as - I assume - he is trying to craft a mental link between the "liberal" attitudes of Australia's founding fathers and his Liberal party started by Menzies. So it makes it seem that Australia as always been 'liberal" and that the Liberal Party is the natural party of government that has done every good thing for Australia ever.

Abbot also cannot stop taking shots at Labor politicians. For example he talks about how basically the first thing done during 1901 parliament was the implementation of the White Australia Policy, which he states was bi-partisan. Then he cant help but go on to say but erm actually Labor opposed it way more vehemently than the "liberal" side of politics. It's childish really.

Its' not incorrect that Labor was against in non-white immigration. It's factual, and they were undoubtable far more "racist" in the past. but the framing is incredibly disingenuous.

If he did it only once I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but he does this constantly throughout, where Whitlam or Calwell or whoever else is pro some policy that is involves some form of discrimination, or makes a racist comment. Which its not that its untrue but he is taking shots at dead men as if to say look how open minded us liberals are.

There no point where a stray racist remark is inserted, which was said by anyone he deems "liberal". So he's clearly pushing an agenda.

Other points:

There is attention drawn to how early settlers and especially the colonial government were mostly aimed to be cordial with and incorporate aboriginals into their growing colonial society. And how Aboriginals were British subjects where were at least on paper entitled to the same rights as everyone else in the colony.

Fortunately he doesn't try to cover up colonial massacres they are included as part of the story. But some of the more distasteful episodes are not mentioned like the view that aboriginals were "seen as a dying race" or the (highly contentious claim) that diseases were intentionally by settlers and he prevents a somewhat whitewashed version of the stolen generations (not that he mentions it by name).

He describes the victims of the stolen generations mixed-race children which is obvious that it would be the case. But its not a aspect I've ever previously seen mentioned before, as the consensus is that any percentage aboriginal ancestry makes you aboriginal.

He characterises the era of Hawke and Howard as a time of continuous reform. Half of that is true, and more interestingly saw himself as wanting to continue that era while he was in office.

Comparing Hawke and Howard is like night and day.

In his glazing of Howard there is no mention of work choices.

He complains about Keating and his "culture war" policies.

He decides to start calling locally born Australians "native-born" which he is obviously making a point with.

He names Howard, Menzies and Deakin as some of our greatest prime minsters while Hawke and Curtin are some of the greatest "Labor prime ministers"

He is far more pro multiculturalism than I would ever have expected given what I know about him. In fact there are numerous times where it seems he's on the cusp of coming to accept a more progressive or to use his favourite word "liberal" stance on something but he is so entrenched in his own dogma that he pulls away at the last second, not quite able to get over the last hurdle.

A few other reviews have called this book required reading for school um no its should not be required reading unless its an illustration of how sources can be biased. but I see no reason while school children shouldn't be exposed to parts of this book in conjunction with other material.

[William Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good single volume history of Australia. A reasonably balanced account. The later chapters bring a little more political perspective and interpretation but nothing too untoward. The Rum Rebellion and the conflict with early merchants and landholders seen through different eyes. A frontier wars acknowledged. Joe Lyons seen in a different light. Menzies well treated. After writing a quite balanced account of Australia's history and emphasising the positives, Abbott looks to the future and his role in shaping it. He is quite entitled to do this. However I remain convinced that he is simply on the wrong track and I am very glad that he is no longer in the parliament. His explanations of recent positions were just not convincing.

[Rick Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshingly Good.

I would have liked more primary rather than secondary sources. But an excellent breadth of research seems to have gone into writing this.

Some significant omissions in my view, but that’s inevitable.

What struck me most was that Tony Abbott, quite obviously, loves Australia. (Shock horror!). He’s positive, grateful, glad and optimistic. He even conveys a high regard for some of those not aligned with his politics (Hawke, Beasley, Keating not so much).

I read a snarky review calling it a ‘whitewash’ of Australian history. I didn’t regard it so and doubt the reviewer read the book. If you’re wary of a whitewash, my go to on Indigenous issues is Sutton. Worth chasing up.

[Christopher Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it regardless of who you vote for

Excellent, well researched overview of Australia’s history (as expected from a Rhodes scholar). Refreshing reminder of what a great nation we’ve become, how grateful we should be, and how our future can still be bright

[Mitchell Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.

[Bill Cripps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the development of modern Australia.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australia … A History lesson

I really enjoyed this read …. Refreshing my memory of Australian history …. Recommend it to all Australian to read …

[David Maywald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review of Australia: A History by Tony Abbott

Australia: A History is clearly a labour of love. Written by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, this ambitious work reflects decades of reading, reflection, and conviction about the story of our nation. It's a passion project on a monumental scale; one driven by deeply held beliefs about Australia, its institutions, and the character of its people...

The book has attracted praise from across the political and social spectrum, with many commentators recognising the sheer scope of the undertaking. Whether readers agree with every interpretation or not, few can deny the seriousness of the effort and the author’s commitment to telling Australia’s story.

Abbott’s account consciously differs from much of the academic orthodoxy that has dominated historical writing in recent decades. Rather than viewing Australia primarily through a lens of grievance or decline, he seeks to balance honesty about past failures with recognition of national achievements: building democratic institutions, expanding opportunity, and forging a distinctive civic culture...

In doing so, Australia: A History contributes something valuable to the national conversation. It invites Australians to grapple with the past in a way that's candid yet constructive, capable of uniting rather than dividing. By reconnecting readers with the long arc of the Australian story, the book encourages a sense of continuity, gratitude, and confidence as we move forward together.

The sweep of Australia: A History traces the long arc of the nation’s development: from Indigenous Australia and early European exploration, through the challenges of settlement and federation, to the building of democratic institutions, national character, and Australia’s place in the modern world. Tony Abbott presents the story as one of struggle, achievement, and evolving identity, highlighting the people, ideas, and institutions that shaped the country we know today.

This book will benefit readers who want an accessible, narrative-driven account of Australian history outside the confines of academic debate. Students, civic leaders, teachers, and ordinary Australians with an interest in their country’s past will find it particularly rewarding, especially those seeking a broad national story that connects political, cultural, and social developments.

Overall, Australia: A History stands as an ambitious and thoughtful contribution to the nation’s historical literature. It reflects a clear viewpoint, but it is also generous in spirit; aiming to encourage reflection, appreciation, and confidence in Australia’s journey. As a work of synthesis and conviction, it adds meaningfully to how Australians understand their past and imagine their shared future...

[Andrew Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott has collected surprising endorsements for his history of Austalia: former Labor leaders Kim Beazley and Bill Shorten, Indigeneous former Labor senator Nova Peris (and more predictably Indigenous current Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijimpa Price), and republican fellow popular historian Peter FitzSimons.

I don't think the blurbs reflect just a capacity to maintain relationships across party lines. For its genre - history for non-historians - Abbott's book is I think pretty good. It reflects wide reading of the secondary sources on Australian history. The writing is clear, the narrative moves along nicely. He has an argument to make - more on which below - but admits evidence contrary to his perspective.

In an author's note Abbott is upfront about the reason for his book. It is to counter the 'black armband' view of Australia's history which emphasises its negatives, especially the destruction of pre-1788 tribal societies carried out by British colonists, but more broadly the critical stances taken by the Australian left since the 1960s.

At its core Abbott's argument is that we don't need to deny that things happened that are wrong by the standards of today, and sometimes wrong by the standards of the time, to believe that overall Australia's history is more good than bad.

By Western standards, Australia evolved in a surprisingly liberal way for a nation that began as a penal colony, adopted democratic institutions early and was relatively quick to broaden the franchise, despite occasional major economic downturns has mostly delivered relatively high living standards, and despite the white Australia policy that lasted a few generations evolved into a largely cooperative multi-ethnic and multicultural society.

In Abbott's summation, modern Australia is a 'country with an Indigenous heritage, a British foundation, and an immigrant character'.

Some odds and ends I did not know: by 1850 Melbourne had 3 daily newspapers (currently 2), more people arrived in Australia for the gold rush than as convicts, swimming or surfing in the sea was discouraged until the early 20th century, the first commercial sunscreen in the world was Australian in 1932, all adults during WW2 had to carry ID cards, as late as the 1960s RSL clubs wanted to ban Japanese vehicles from their car parks, and Arthur Calwell (most famous quote 'two Wongs don't make a White') studied Mandarin in his spare time. I was less surprised to learn that the value of imported tabacco and alcohol in 1852 exceeded the value of all British imports in 1850.

[Bowles Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not overly impressed by Tony Abbot as a politician and prime minister (though better than his successors) so I had some reservations as to whether he was up to writing such a book. I am pleased to say I was wrong. Mr Abbott has done an excellent job. The book is well researched and well written. It is target audience is Australians who want to know about our history but do not. He sets out to show what a good country Australia always has been, as it has.

Abbott tells of the progress along the pathway of democratic government and the rule of law. This is known as the Whig Interpretation of history and has been true of Australia (until the last 40-50 years.) Life has been better for those who migrated here and their descendants. And that includes the convicts.

Though a former Liberal politician and prime minister, Abbott has avoided partisanship and been fair to Labor. More than fair, I would say.

The latter part of the book is messy: no clear path through the present or to the future. This is not a failure of Abbott’s writing. It has how Australia became from the eighties onwards. The linear progress of earlier times has been lost. Abbott has does his best to make sense of the period.

As I expected, as I read, Abbott reverted to politician mode as he wrote of the greatest disaster in Australian history, the dismantling of the White Australia Policy, the number one cause of the messiness of Australia today. He presents this dismantling as a good thing. Well, a politician would say that, wouldn’t he? Interestingly, Abott spends as little space on this topic as he can get away with, so maybe he is not so keen. His support of this is somewhat mechanical as though performing a task he does not really agree with.

My opinion of Tony Abbott has improved as a consequence of this book.

[Yili Zhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abbott presents a concise political and social history of Australia from 1788 to 2025 in this book. The language is accessible to the average reader, and he maintains a good balance in the level of detail devoted to historical events. One of the book’s strengths is that Abbott not only describes events but also makes a genuine effort to explain their underlying causes and motivations. This approach makes the narrative engaging and coherent.

Abbott does not shy away from the injustices suffered by Indigenous Australians since the arrival of the First Fleet. However, there is a consistent tone suggesting that these atrocities—dispossession, discrimination, and inhumane treatment—were largely unintentional. He argues that they were not driven by white supremacy or an explicit desire to destroy Indigenous people and culture, but rather were the by-products of settlers pursuing prosperity and defending what they believed to be their own interests.

Abbott is far less objective when discussing the period since Gough Whitlam. He fails to give adequate credit to Paul Keating for his significant macroeconomic and social reforms, seemingly due to ideological differences. He is even less generous toward his political opponents in both the Liberal and Labor parties, to the point of being unwilling to acknowledge any of their achievements as positive. This may reflect a sincere belief in his own assessments rather than simple resentment.

Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable and worthwhile read, provided it is not relied upon as the sole source for understanding Australian history.