History
Wakefield has been under its present ownership since 1989, but there have been editions in existence since the 1940s. It was founded in 1942 by Adelaide bookseller Harry Muir (1909-1991), owner of Beck Book Company Limited. His intention was to publish small, historical monographs which he believed would otherwise go unread. The company’s first publication was A Checklist of Ex-Libris Literature Published in Australia.
The current directors are Michael Bollen and Stephanie Johnston. Against national and international publishing trends of outsourcing most areas of expertise, Wakefield Press conducts all stages of the publishing process (except printing) under one roof. This includes editing, design, typesetting, marketing, publicity, sales, distribution and administration.
Wakefield Press publishes around fifty new titles each year. Their books often hit bestseller lists and win awards. Ochre and Rust, by Philip Jones won the non-fiction prize in the inaugural Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.
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