5 islands press
FIVE Islands Press was founded in 1986 by a group of eight writers in the Illawarra region of NSW. It was originally established as a co-operative vehicle for the publication of the works of its founders, amongst whom was legendary Ron Pretty. Largely because of Ron's vision, talent and energy, the press grew to be a major force in Australian poetry publishing; by the time Ron retired from the Press in 2007, it had published 230 books, attracted a list of eminent authors and been awarded several major prizes.
Between 2007 and 2019, the fine tradition of the Press was kept alive by a string of dedicated and talented people, including (amongst others) Robyn Rowland, Lyn Hatherly, Kevin Brophy, Susan Fealy, Dan Disney, Sandy Fitts, Michael McKay, Jenna Shaw, Ella Holcombe and Lucy Holt. During this period, the press published another 44 books of poetry from established and emerging authors. Following a near-death experience, Five Islands Press became an imprint of Apothecary Archive, managed by Five Islands poet Gareth Sion Jenkins, in 2020. Under Gareth's custodianship, the press concentrated on producing reprints of out-of-print Five Islands books, publishing occasional new books and documenting the long history of the press. Following a long illness, Ron Pretty passed away in 2023. Oystercatcher Enterprises Ltd conceived the idea of reviving the press as a significant publisher of new work as a way of honouring, preserving and building on Ron's legacy. Dr Jenkins generously agreed to transfer the imprint, and material that he had gathered on the press and its authors, to Oystercatcher. Oystercatcher is committed to publishing, under the 5 Islands Press imprint, an exciting range of new poetry that is both accomplished and accessible to audiences well beyond the poetry specialists who are most of the readers of new poetry at present.
Between 2007 and 2019, the fine tradition of the Press was kept alive by a string of dedicated and talented people, including (amongst others) Robyn Rowland, Lyn Hatherly, Kevin Brophy, Susan Fealy, Dan Disney, Sandy Fitts, Michael McKay, Jenna Shaw, Ella Holcombe and Lucy Holt. During this period, the press published another 44 books of poetry from established and emerging authors. Following a near-death experience, Five Islands Press became an imprint of Apothecary Archive, managed by Five Islands poet Gareth Sion Jenkins, in 2020. Under Gareth's custodianship, the press concentrated on producing reprints of out-of-print Five Islands books, publishing occasional new books and documenting the long history of the press. Following a long illness, Ron Pretty passed away in 2023. Oystercatcher Enterprises Ltd conceived the idea of reviving the press as a significant publisher of new work as a way of honouring, preserving and building on Ron's legacy. Dr Jenkins generously agreed to transfer the imprint, and material that he had gathered on the press and its authors, to Oystercatcher. Oystercatcher is committed to publishing, under the 5 Islands Press imprint, an exciting range of new poetry that is both accomplished and accessible to audiences well beyond the poetry specialists who are most of the readers of new poetry at present.
Our aims are close to those that the founder of Five Islands Press, the late Ron Pretty, spent his life promoting, In his own poetry, in his writings on the craft, in his teaching and mentoring and, importantly through Five Islands Press, Ron wanted to make poetry that took people deeper into their daily lives and minds. And he wanted that poetry to reach readers who might not otherwise read it. So, in responding to what we see as the urgent need for more poetry publishing in Australia—especially of lyric poetry, poetry of wisdom and accomplishment and craft—it seemed sensible to carry on what Ron began, to revive a revered press he founded and, with others like Kevin Brophy, built into the most respected poetry press of its day.
Dr Mark Tredinnick, Managing Editor, Oystercatcher Enterprises Ltd
Dr Mark Tredinnick, Managing Editor, Oystercatcher Enterprises Ltd
AcknowledgEMent
The material on this page is drawn mainly from the History of Five Islands Press, developed by Dr Gareth Jenkins, and the speech made on Ron Pretty's retirement from the Press by Dr Robyn Rowland. Both of the sources can be found on the Five Islands Press website