In 1976, with extensive experience in the printing industry, Leslie Padman OBE began Boolarong Publications in Bowen Hills because all of the book publishers were in Sydney and Melbourne. He wanted to give Queenslanders the opportunity to have their manuscripts published and printed by Queensland businesses. He started a relationship with Watson Ferguson and Company (est. 1868) to print his publications. Padman started with art books and prints initially, but then closely followed by history and biographies.
In 1985 Padman sold the business to Watson Ferguson and Company. Since 1995 both Watson Ferguson and Company and Boolarong Press has been owned by the Kelly family.
We continue the tradition of both Watson Ferguson and Boolarong with history and biographies, but have now added more genres as seen by our category list.
We are members of the Australian Publishers Association and The Small Press Network.