Australia: A History: From convict colony to great democracy, by the former Prime Minister with a foreword by Geoffrey Blainey

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

'A fascinating book ... that negotiates all kinds of tensions' 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 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 honesty and respect, so we can better understand our present and shape a stronger, more inclusive future' Dai Le MP, independent member for Fowler

Genres: Nonfiction

448 pages, Hardcover

Published June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Vahn Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From is beginning, modern Australia has been a place where only the very unlucky have missed out on a decent life...people prepared to 'have a fair go' have normally vern abundantly blessed with 'getting a fair go' in return. As a society, we are still less stratified than Britain and less individualistic than the United States, although perhaps no longer quite so sure we have the best life on Earth."

While not quite a Churchill in the Prime Minister's office, Tony Abbott has inadvertently become the political historian of Australia by daring to chronicle the history of the "lucky country". It was surprising to discover a complete lack of books providing a general history of Australia - even its little cousin New Zealand has Michael King to thank for its own story being put to paper.

Yes, Abbott's own worldview does influence the perspective taken on more current affairs but this book offers a remarkably balanced and common sense recounting of Australia's history from the First Fleed to the Second World War period. Indigenous Australians are treated with respect but not exaggeration, and immigration is dealt with in phases rather than lumped into simple terms. It was a refreshing read, taking a step back to acknowledge the fact Australia grew from a backwater prison colony into one of the wealthiest and most prosperous countries on Earth. Its biases honestly acknowledged and only come into play in the later more contemporary post-war commentary.

A recommended read for anybody wanting to understand what makes Australia so "lucky" if the reader gives it a "fair go". This book serves as a challenge to the "official" versions of Australian history shoved down students throats at school and university by the ideological class.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone whose knowledge of Australia and its history is limited to what they have seen on television shows such as NCIS Sydney, and movies such as The Sundowners, or read in travelogues such as In A Sunburned Country, or in novels such as The Thorn Birds, this is a superb, succinct, concise and highly readable introduction to Australia, its history and its people. It debunks many of the misconceptions and the misinformation presented in books and the media.

To the author’s credit, he does not try to sanitize Australian history by ignoring or glossing over its history of racism, and its mistreatment of its aboriginal inhabitants. Instead he attempts to confront them, albeit not to the extent, or in the depth that a reader would like, and endeavors to contextualize them, although he does not offer an abject apology for the country’s racism and mistreatment of its aboriginal population.

The book often skims over events, and provides only a few details about them. It name drops key figures in Australian history without supplying any information about them beyond a cursory biography, and often not even that. At times the book can be tiresome and tedious reading as it gets lost in the weeds, and quotes facts and figures, and names and dates with few details or descriptive information.

It loses a star for its lack of depth and detail. Nevertheless, it is a good introduction to Australian history for anyone who is unfamiliar with it.

[Nerd_Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eminently readable, the words paint an interesting picture of my favourite homeland. Naturally, the closer this book gets towards former Prime Minister and author Tony Abbott's lifetime, the more political it gets, but everything up to World War II was incredibly fascinating. The early tales of the first European settlers in particular. It's amazing to think of how fast and how much this continent has been transformed since.

Although Mr. Abbott himself admits his political lens on the topics, the later quarter of the book really made little attempt to appear unbiased, which called to question the earlier material too that I had so readily believed as fact over opinion. Yet this book gave me so much interest in my nations story and was pretty happy by the end with this gift!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly history, with the last chapter being an opinion and an assessment of current issues.

I enjoyed this book. Very easy to read and definitely enlightening. It has focused much on the development of the Australia society into what it is today, following the development of liberal ideology vs socialist ideology, and the context of the two streams of thinking.

There is a distinct lack of Aboriginal history, and the included sections were mostly the good. While the bad were acknowledged only in brief sentences. Much more could have been done here.

In the end. Whether you agree with his politic or not, this is an excellent read and probably a less discussed area of how Australia becomes the country it is today.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially this is a history of Australia from a political perspective. Seeing how politics changed and shaped us to be the nation that we are today, while also looking at how society and events shaped the politics of each time period.
Tony Abbot writes in an easy-to-read style, though there were a few words that sent me scrambling for a dictionary. There were so many interesting bits of information that helped me relate to my own family history, filled gaps in my historical knowledge, or are just facts to tuck away for interesting conversation at a later date.
It also serves as a reminder not to just accept what you are taught at school, but dig in to other resources, look for additional sources, and research for yourself what really happened in the past - what you find may surprise you.

[Jack Dalrymple · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid retelling of facts about Australia mixed with conservative ideology.

Easy to read, helpful to know more about the famous names we see across Australia (e.g., Wentworth), and clearly written by Tony Abbott with his views of the world reflected in each page.

I did love how Tony connected Australia’s wool production to a lower appetite for revolution in the UK, to the frustration of communism father Engels. Aussies beating the communists before it was fashionable

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is surprisingly good, well written and interesting. Abbott has a folksy style similar to Geoffrey Blainey and is as readable and captivating. I especially like how Abbott undermines Labor sacred cows such as being first to remove the White Australia policy and fostering trade and interaction with Asia. Well worth reading, even if you don't agree with his politics