New book highlights the history of macadamias

PIONEERS of the macadamia nut industry in the Northern Rivers feature in a new book celebrating the native nut.

They include John Bucknell Waldron — affectionately known as ‘Nutty Waldron’ — who cracked the nuts by hand in Murwillumbah and sold them in bags delivered by horse and dray, and Norman Greber, who was born at Rous and is considered the founder of Australia’s macadamia nut industry.

Written by Ian McConachie AM, who has been involved in the industry for more than 60 years, The Macadamia: Australia’s Gift to the World reveals how macadamias evolved in Australian rainforests, some of the Indigenous names and legends about macadamias and the enthusiasm of early settlers for the nutritious treat.

The 324-page book also covers how and why an industry developed in Hawai’i before returning to Australia, and how the industry grew from 40 to 60,000 tonnes here in 50 years.

“This is a story with it all: heroes, villains, wrong turns and lost ways, new inventions, David and Goliath battles over international trade and colourful characters – some with a utopian vision, others perhaps driven by the dream of a quick profit,” former Australian Macadamia Society CEO Jolyon Burnett said.

McConachie, who became a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the macadamia industry, has donated the book and all proceeds from its sale to the Macadamia Conservation Trust, which works to protect the remaining wild macadamia trees and the forests they call home.

The book is available from selected bookstores, including The Book Room in Byron Bay and Lennox Head, Miles and Henry in Alstonville, Book Warehouse in Lismore and Ballina and some Dymocks outlets.

It can also be purchased online through Australian Scholarly Publishing.

For more information, visit scholarly.info/book/the-macadamia-australias-gift-to-the-world