About

Who we are

Boolarong Press was established in 1976 to help Queensland authors, and those living in isolated communities, to tell their stories. 

Leslie Padman OBE began Boolarong Publications in Bowen Hills, as a Brisbane-based alternative, as most book publishers were in Sydney and Melbourne. Padman wanted to give Queenslanders the opportunity to have their manuscripts published and printed by local businesses. 

He formed a relationship with Watson Ferguson & Company (est. 1868) to print the publications. Boolarong began with art books and prints then expanded into history and biographies.

Now, Boolarong Press has increased our production catalogue, printing children’s books, educational titles, fiction and non-fiction. Current titles include history and biographies, continuing the tradition started by Padman. 

A generational business, sold In 1985 to Watson Ferguson and Company. From 1995 to 2026, both Watson Ferguson & Company and Boolarong Press were owned by the Kelly family.

Currently, Boolarong Press is growing under the ownership of Stephen Marland.

We are members of the Australian Publishers Association and The Small Press Network and have helped over 1000 authors tell their stories through the publishing of over 1300 titles. 

What we believe

Boolarong Press believes in honesty, hard work and collaboration. We value print and supporting our local industry. Hard-copy prints can last centuries, and in the growing digital age we strongly believe in its importance. 

In the support of physical publications, Boolarong believes having a strong relationship with Book stores is essential. Not only to support our local Australian industry, but to encourage the next generation of readers to consume with care. 

Our authors are our priority. We aim to support our local storytellers and ensure they get the chance to share their tale. 

The behind-the-scenes staff are our backbone. They typeset, design, print, bind and distribute. They then market, sell and promote the books to the reader. Our staff are the reason we continue to grow. 

Ultimately, Boolarong Press believes in open and honest communication with our authors, customers, suppliers, staff and readers. Business integrity is paramount to us. We pride ourselves in providing exceptional service and contributing to the local publishing industry.

Sustainability

Boolarong Press is committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact.

We achieve this by integrating solar panels to minimise our carbon emissions. We are always investigating further ways we can promote an environmentally-friendly operation.  We are currently working towards producing carbon neutral books.

Our factory utilises recycling techniques to ensure minimal waste. This includes paper offcuts, cardboard, toner and more. We hold firm in the belief of reducing, re-using, and recycling. We continue to assess our waste, so that we can attain zero waste in the future.