More than 120 distinguished guests were invited to the book launch of the new CQU Press title, 'Showing Off. Queensland at World Exhibitions 1862-1988'.

The book was authored by Dr Judith McKay of the Queensland Museum and was jointly published by CQU Press with the Queensland Museum.

At the start of the ceremony, CQU Chancellor Mr Rennie Fritschy presented the Premier with a copy of the book and thanked him for his generosity to CQU in having now launched five of our books.

Other VIPs at the ceremony included the director of the Queensland Museum, Dr Ian Galloway and the Chair of the Smithsonian Foundation Fellowship, Ms Catherine Ferguson.

A review of the book by publisher Professor David Myers:.

Many of us have happy memories of Brisbane’s World Expo 88, but how many know of its 19th century predecessor, the Queensland International Exhibition of 1897? And how many of us know that between 1862 and 1988, Queensland took part in 23 world expositions?.

'Showing Off' takes us on a tour of these celebratory events, which show the best that Queensland could offer the world over more than a century.

It traces the evolution of the state from a British colony fiercely competing for the mother country’s attention and support, to an Australian state increasingly focused on the Asia-Pacific region, and even more competitive than ever.

When we gaze in admiration at these extraordinary displays by a land of milk and honey, we often overlook the huge costs involved.

In 1899 when Queensland exhibited at the London Exhibition, it was in the grip of the Great Drought, the worst environmental disaster that the state has ever known.

This devastating drought reduced sheep and cattle numbers by a third and caused a deficit of five hundred thousand pounds by 1901. In addition, there were the risks of loss and damage with consignments taking long sea voyages of up to three months to teach England.

Indeed, on three occasions, in 1871, 1872 and 1901, exhibits were lost in shipwrecks! Other exhibits deteriorated beyond recognition and were useless. Nevertheless, the show went on.

The author of this unusual history, Dr Judith McKay, is a curator at the Queensland Museum. Judith is an experienced historian. Her other publications include 'Ellis Rowan: a flower-hunter in Queensland' and 'Queensland architects of the 19th century: a biographical dictionary' (with Donald Watson). In 2001, Judith was awarded a Queensland-Smithsonian Fellowship, which led to the present publication.

The Queensland Premier, the Hon. Peter Beattie, provides a Foreword for the book in which he writes:.

‘Those early entrepreneurs who make 'Showing Off' so interesting would be proud of what Queensland has become. Today, we are continuing their tradition of innovation and ingenuity by building Smart State expertise across all sectors from biotechnology and agriculture, education and tourism, to science and the arts.’.

The author has constructed her book with attractive chapter divisions and titles. Land of Promise covers from London in 1862 to Paris in 1878. Tropic Wonderland covers from Sydney in 1879 to Melbourne in 1889. El Dorado ranges from Brisbane in 1897 to London and then Glasgow in 1901. Farmers’ Paradise from London in 1908 to San Francisco in 1915. The Empire’s Food Basket ranges from London in 1925 to Glasgow in 1938. And Sunshine State covers from Montreal in 1967 to Osaka in 1970 and finally back to Brisbane in 1988. There are 23 world exhibitions covered in total.

The spectacular exhibits show how Queensland changed from a resource-rich frontier colony touting for settlers and capital to a sophisticated state determined to develop its vast potential.

The exhibits are never dull and the illustrations include such intriguing images as an axe head floating in a mercury fountain, Queen Victoria clapping her hands to her ears and fleeing from a Queensland exhibit, the mysterious disappearance of 57 bottles of Queensland wine en route to London, a cheese that weighed 1= tons, and the world’s biggest coral garden.

This is a must buy for every significant library in Australia. It is luxuriously produced in large format and abounds in historical illustrations on every page. It provides unique insights into the changing ways that we Queenslanders have perceived ourselves in the last 140 years and what we wanted to be famous for at different times: gold mining and mineral wealth; tropical agriculture; and tourism destination. Perhaps the next exhibition will be to advertise us as the Smart State?.

For details call Professor David Myers Ph: 07 5552 4960 or Dr Judith McKay, Queensland Museum 07 3840 7662.

Photo: Author Dr Judith McKay with publisher Professor Myers and the parrot exhibits from the 1988 Brisbane World Expo, courtesy of the Queensland Museum. Photo: The Premier launched the book in the Red Room, formerly the Senate Chambers in Parliament House in Brisbane.