Alan Clark: Your go-to for Shoalhaven's history
Published on 19 June 2023
Alan Clark is a local expert when it comes to unearthing and chronicling the captivating past of the Shoalhaven region. So, if you're up for an adventure through time, grab one of Alan Clark's books at Shoalhaven Libraries and get ready to be amazed. Alan Clark is your go-to writer for all things Shoalhaven, his books make history exciting and accessible for everyone.
Why did you start writing about Shoalhaven’s history?
I had had an interest in local history for some years, and on moving to Nowra in 1975, Shoalhaven Historical Society was one of the first organisations that I joined. I was appointed to the committee in 1976 and have been there ever since, including 25 years as secretary.
How many books haven you written?
That is a rather grey area, but I have researched and written more than 40 of varying sizes and have been associated with possibly 20 more. I have collaborated with Robyn Florance on some, and edited others. My work at the South Coast Register included proof-reading, so I have also made myself available to do that.
How do you pick your topics?
There are several answers to that question – ranging from anniversaries of organisations such as the centenary or jubilee; to personal interests; and topics significant to the district.
From this latter category, I wrote a history of the Waratah Recruiting March during World War I that was self-published in 1995; but with more information available through the internet, it was enlarged and reprinted for the centenary 20 years later.
Similarly, although a non-drinker, I regarded the Early Years of Nowra District Pubs as an important social history, and that was revised in 2015.
I had long recognised the importance of the horse to our early settlers, so in retirement I wrote a series of books, profiling those involved in trades that used them – Blacksmiths, Coachmen and Saddlers.
They were published by the Historical Society, and using the same methodology, I have since produced publications on Cordial-makers and Newspaper people.
Before the Covid pandemic changed our lives, I was researching the Pneumonic Influenza epidemic of 1919 and a booklet, Nowra in Mourning published during its centenary year, proved to be topical.
My most prolific subject has been Shoalhaven cricket. I was active in the association for 35 years during which I was researching the sport, and wrote histories for the senior and junior competitions, along with clubs past and present.
Can you tell us about your book – Villages of Shoalhaven?
This publication began as a series of articles I wrote for the Shoalhaven Family History Society’s journal, that ran in the early 1990s. I had previously edited two booklets published by the Shoalhaven Tourism Board, Street Name Origins first published in 1986, followed four years later by 500 Names and Places of Shoalhaven. These had frequently been reprinted, and so in 1994, Villages of Shoalhaven became the third in the series. When it came time for the printing of the 6th edition, tourism manager Tom Phillips suggested a change of format with colour photographs, and that glossy publication appeared in 2010. The first two booklets are still on my computer, and occasionally added to.
Can you tell us about your book – On this day in the Shoalhaven?
During the Bicentennial year of 1988, the historical societies of the Shoalhaven produced a small booklet, Shoalhaven Dateline, which in chronological order, listed significant events against the year in which they had occurred. At different times over the next 30 years, I thought about something more comprehensive, covering every day of the year.
Once I decided to go ahead with it, I spent months browsing through the local history publications in my library, along with the computer files I had compiled over more than 30 years. Any difficult dates were filled by searching local newspapers on the Trove website, and including photographs, On This Day in Shoalhaven was released in early 2022 with some surprising references.
The beauty of this book is that you can sit down and read as much as you like, whether you have two minutes to spend, or two hours. I am told it is brought out to one local group every week, when its owner reads what happened on that day, often producing personal reminiscences.
Can you tell us about your book – Historical Tales from around the Shoalhaven?
Early this century, the Register published a page each week, focussing on a different town in the district, and my contribution was a short article about an historical event or personality. Each comprised the same number of words, and when given permission to publish them in booklet form during 2001, I was able to fit one on each page.
Who is your favourite author?
While I do not have a favourite book, I admit to being influenced by many of the historical and cricket books I have read over the years; by observing the authors’ research methods and storytelling techniques.