The Restless Waterfront by James Gaby | Sydney Stevedoring Memoir (1974, Hardcover)

Author: James Gaby
Publisher: Antipodean Publishers, Sydney, 1974
Format: Hardcover, 252 pages, includes illustrations (one in colour)
Type of Book: Australian Labour History / Autobiography
ISBN: 9780869440247/0869440241
Dimensions: 22 cm
Condition: Near Fine – clean, tightly bound, and well preserved with minimal signs of wear.

Description:
The Restless Waterfront is a personal and powerful memoir of James Gaby's experiences working on the Sydney waterfront from 1922 to 1954. As a stevedore and union man, Gaby provides an insider’s view of the gritty, turbulent world of dock work, offering a unique look into Australia’s maritime labour history during a time of significant industrial change.

Through vivid storytelling and personal anecdotes, Gaby documents his role in the evolving relationships between stevedores, shipping companies, and unions, as well as the broader social and political currents shaping the working-class experience. A rare firsthand account of a vital part of Sydney’s economic and social history.

Why You'll Love It:
A rich primary source for readers interested in labour movements, union history, or Sydney’s working waterfront. This is an essential read for historians, researchers, and collectors of Australian social history.