HISTORY has resurfaced with the reissuing of the book Broadford: A Regional History, which June Fletcher first published and edited 48 years ago.
Ms Fletcher, who passed away last year, was a longtime Broadford resident and compiled a detailed book about the history of the town and the families who were a key part of the community.
In collaboration with Broadford Historical Society members, led by president Rod Mackenzie, the new edition was coordinated through Lowden Publisher Co with Bronwyn Lowden who scanned the original text and photos.
The new edition now has an added chapter on the Indigenous Taungurung presence at Broadford, written by Martin Williams, as well as an updated listing of all known Broadford Shire councillors up until 1994, compiled by former councillors Alan Stute and Kath Mackenzie.
There are also new photos. researched and copied by John Brissett, giving full names, and a greater, expanded index, adding known birth and death dates, and maiden names in the case of female listings.
Lowden Publisher Co founder Jim Lowden said the current book highlighted a new generation of printing where automated technology was used to copy from an electronically supplied file and digitally printed images.
“It is publication number 82 from Lowden Publishing Co, a publisher which was established in Kilmore in 1968 and carries the distinguishing logo of the rearing horse,” he said.
“The original edition of the first set was in linotype, paged up with footnotes, and hand set headings in monotype.
“It was then printed eight pages at a time on the Heidelberg SBG flatbed printing machine on the Lowden property ‘Lyndhurst’, Kilmore West.
“The 16-page sections were next folded and intermittent pages of plates were wrapped around the required sections. The ordered sections were subsequently collated and they were sent to bookbinders Irwin and McLaren in Richmond where they were sewn into individual books.
“The preprinted endpapers were pasted on, and the books were then glued by hand into gold blocked, cloth covered board covers and placed into a screw-down press until dry.”
The newly-published book is available from the Broadford and District Historical Society; Victoria Heritage Survey Museum Bookshop, Court House, Kilmore; Red Door Books, Lancefield; and Royal Historical Society of Victoria Bookshop in Melbourne.
