Lenore's Virtual Bookshop

This page was created 28 Jul 1998

Updated 30 April 2015

A small but select list of family and local history publications by Lenore Frost

The books detailed below are available direct from Lenore,

PO BOX 531 ESSENDON 3040

or from retail outlets
listed at the end of this page:

Bandsman Vosti's Diaries: War and peace in Essendon, 1917-1920

John Vosti is the father of a large family living in Ascot Vale during the Great War. In 1917 he is working at the Cordite Factory, Maribyrnong, and playing with the Essendon City Council Band. His eldest son, Les, is in France with the AIF as a bandsman/stretcher-bearer.

John Vosti’s diaries, covering 1917 to 1920, give a detailed account of the daily life of a working family caught up in the struggle of a nation at war. Anxiously awaiting news from their soldier son, they participate in pro-Conscription rallies and patriotic events. At the war’s end the struggle continues with industrial disputes affecting their jobs, while the Spanish flu epidemic rages through the district.

These unique diaries offer a special insight into the life of an ordinary working family in a difficult period in Australia’s history.

ISBN: 978-0-9580558-2-6 $30 plus post and packaging ($4 in Australia)

Click here to see the index.

You can also order this book at:

BookPOD Bookstore Online bookstore

Essendon Historical Society Inc 768 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds 3040

Essendon and the Boer War, with letters from the Veldt, 1899-1902

The centenary of the Anglo-Australian War, and a commemorative monument to the men of Essendon who went to serve the Empire in South Africa, was the inspiration for this study of a small community at the turn of the century. Attitudes to "disloyalty" were severe. The whole community, including children, were involved in patriotic activities. The men in South Africa wrote detailed reports from South Africa of their experiences on the campaign trail. They talked about gruelling hours in the saddle interspersed with wild gallops after the Boers, bad tucker, no shelter from the elements, and pride in their achievements as Australians.
Illustrations, bibliography, index.

Click here to see the index

ISBN 0-9580558-0-7 $30 posted in Australia

Searching for Mary Ann: researching women ancestors in Australia

In order to give some depth to the portraits of our women ancestors, this book offers a methodical approach to researching a variety of record sources. It includes a State-by-State survey of published material and guides to archival records about women. It covers a wide field of possible research avenues, including computer databases, microfilmed records and indexes.
ISBN 646 16705 7 REDUCED PRICE SPECIAL!! $A6.00 posted in Australia

Australian Women's Work Exhibition 1907 Catalogue Index

(2 microfiche set)
These microfiche contain an index to Australian Women's Work: catalogue and programme of the First Exhibition of Women's Work, Melbourne, 1907 reproduced on microfiche by the Library Council of Victoria, Melbourne, 1987. The index contains thousands of names of women in the Edwardian period - competitors, prize winners, prize donors, advertisers and trade exhibitors. Competitions included applied and fine arts, cookery, needlework and laundry work. Most entrants were Victorian, but all States were well represented. This index represents an invaluable opportunity to discover something about your women ancestors' leisure or work activities. [ This set of fiche contains only the Index, NOT the Catalogue and Program.]
Available only from Lenore
ISBN 0 646 31444 0 $A15.00 posted in Australia

Murder and Misfortune on the Mount Alexander Road; Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale and Flemington, 1840-1866

This book is based on selected Coronial inquests held in the district of Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale and Flemington between 1840 and 1866. The evidence presented at the inquests were eye-witness accounts of events and conditions in the early days of settlement. Witnesses include Alexander McDonald, a stockman, who saw his mate gored by a wild bullock; John Dawes, a shepherd, who found a dead body in a swamp with a little dog sitting on its back; and Christina Alcorn, who charitably attended a woman sick with dysentery living out her last miserable days in a tent. Causes of death included riding into trees, visitations of God, strychnine poisoning, drownings, and of course, the occasional murder.
The book includes the names of the jurors who sat on the inquests. Their name in the Coronial documents is often the earliest record of them having settled in the district. Brief biographical details are given of the jurors and witnesses, where known. An index of names allows you to readily find references to the witnesses and jurors.

ISBN 0 646 23503 $A15.00 posted in Australia

Dating Family Photos, 1850-1920

Out of print.

It is no good emailing me to ask where you can get a copy, because I am the only supplier, and I have no copies. You will need to go to a library and borrow one. This book is done and dusted. It will not be reprinted.

ISBN 0 646 05898 3

How to order books from Lenore direct:

Send a cheque or money order to:

Lenore Frost
PO Box 531
Essendon 3040

If you are sending a cheque, an email will remind me to check the PO Box, for prompt delivery!

Trade terms are available to bookstores.

Retail Outlets

Shops marked (1) "Bandsman Vosti's Diaries"
                       (2) "Murder and Misfortune"
                               (3) "Essendon and the Boer War"
                               (4) "Searching for Mary Ann"

VICTORIA

Essendon Historical Society                                               768 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds Vic   (1) (2) (3)

Retail Outlets

These bookshops stock Essendon and the Boer War, with letters from the veldt

Essendon Historical Society 768 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds Vic

For further information about future publications, go to Work in Progress

For other publications about Essendon and district, go to Essendon Historical Society

Links checked 7 May 2012

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