Embracing Change - through the life of Home Beautiful magazine and it's editor: William Shum

 


I had the pleasure of receiving a lovely big book called 'The Untold Story of William Shum' who was the editor of Australian Home Beautiful magazine from 1926 to1946. It was his brilliance and guidance, his choices of content and journalists that guided a magazine-reading public towards the New and the Modern. His editorship invited readers to Embrace Change whilst offering all manner of fascinating How-To articles from building to gardening to sewing, cooking and furnishing plus info about the latest mod cons (electric toaster anyone?). It was William Shum who gave Edna Walling a chance to air her gardening, cottage building, and landscaping ideas - and, it must be said, encouraged her idiosyncratic writing style. The book is by Sue Walker, who happens to be one of William's grandchildren. It's a fascinating dip into Australian social and cultural history.



Above: the front cover; and part of an Edna Walling article 'This is the House that I Built' (page 189).

Here is the blurb:

Sue Walker tells the story of her magazine editor grandfather against the larger backdrop of Australian history and cultural growth. William Shum was a pioneer in Australian magazines, as founding editor of (The) New Idea in 1902, and then Australian Home Beautiful in 1926. As founding editor of New Idea and then Australian Home Beautiful (roles he held for over four decades from 1902-1946), William Shum had an extraordinary influence on people’s lives through the crucial years when modern Australia was being formed. His impact on the homes, gardens and lives of people from all walks of life was immense, yet he remains an unknown figure. Shum led his readers through a time of great change. He encouraged people to break with traditional thinking about their homes and gardens and be open to ideas more appropriate to a new country. Australia, as we know it today, was taking shape, and Australian Home Beautiful led the way. Beautifully illustrated, with rich visual support for the text, the book contains many of Home Beautiful’s memorable hand painted covers, in addition to some of Shum’s wonderfully spontaneous photographs of family life in the early decades of the 20th century. 

AUTHOR: Sue (Sherrard) Walker has had a life-long fascination with artists and the arts. She is best known as the founding Director of the Australian Tapestry Workshop, a collaborative enterprise, involving artists, weavers, architects and clients working together to create major works of public art. 

This large coffee-table book would make an excellent gift - to oneself!


There are lots of Edna Walling references, quotes and plans (e.g. see above left), plus an extraordinary range of artists, architects, builders, gardeners, interior designers, cooks, caravan enthusiasts, sewers - and so much more! 

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