The University’s press publishes thought-provoking books about critical issues and operates the UNSW Bookshop, a hub for culture on Kensington campus.
An analysis of art that explores our relationship with climate events, an anthology of work by disabled writers and a new edition of the classic The Other Side of the Frontier are just some of the compelling new books published by UNSW Press this year.
Founded in 1962, the press is one of Australia’s leading book publishers. Its diverse list includes non-fiction titles for a wide readership, under the NewSouth imprint, in addition to scholarly and specialist books drawing on research from both UNSW academics and writers across the country.
“These are thought-provoking books by some of our brightest minds, exploring contemporary issues, ranging from political and scientific ideas to consideration of the social forces that are shaping our society and world,” says Kathy Bail, UNSW Press CEO.
The press operates as a not-for-profit company and serves as a vital part of the University’s wider engagement both within Australia and abroad.
“Through our distribution division, NewSouth Books, we’re at the heart of a global network of leading publishers, including Princeton University Press, British Library Publishing, CSIRO Publishing and Giramondo, a Sydney-based literary publisher.
“We’re the only university press in Australia to have this unique network, bringing important, award-winning books to Australian audiences,” Kathy says.
Compelling books about critical issues
UNSW Press’s current titles span Australian history, politics, biography, law, science, natural history, architecture and the environment.
“Our authors build on original scholarship and expertise to create compelling, well-researched books. These are books for everyone who respects information integrity and wants to know more about the critical and complex issues of our time,” says Kathy.
Recent titles include Picturing the Climate Emergency, essays on the work of Scientia Professor Dennis Del Favaro, which considers how multi-disciplinary artistic works can help prepare us for future climates. Being Patient: Close Encounters in Cancer World by Dr Na’ama Carlin, Scientia Professor Louise Chappell and Siobhan O’Sullivan, shares the experiences of people navigating a cancer diagnosis.
Surveying the Wild Abyss: Unravelling settler memory by Barry Corr offers a distinctive history of frontier conflict in the Hawkesbury region.
A new edition this December of The Other Side of the Frontier by Henry Reynolds draws on documentary and oral evidence to explore how First Nations peoples responded to the arrival of Europeans.
Also coming in December, Witness: People. Politics. Culture. Feminism. 1975–2025 collects trailblazing feminist, journalist, commentator and author Anne Summers’ reportage, essays, interviews and articles.
Crip Stories: An anthology of disabled writers, published in April, features memoir, essays and poetry about the diverse experiences of disabled people.
For holiday reading, Kathy recommends Wild Neighbours: Urban nature up close by ecologists Ann Goth and Darryl Jones, due in November.
A hub for literary life on campus
UNSW Press also runs the UNSW Bookshop at the Kensington campus.
“We are fortunate to have a well-stocked, inviting bookshop and café at UNSW,” says Kathy.
The shop, located just below the Quad, is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. It offers new release fiction and non-fiction books alongside academic titles, gifts and UNSW merchandise.
“We’re a hub for literary events on campus,” says Will Noble, who manages the shop.
“We sell the latest fiction and non-fiction releases, run book sales for events by the Centre for Ideas, host launches for books by UNSW staff, and there are several book clubs that meet in our reading room, which can hold up to 20 people.”
Future plans and book clubs
Exciting changes are coming for the bookshop, with the launch of a refreshed online store coming in early 2027.
“It will be a new, user-friendly online shopping experience,” says Will.
“We’re also hoping to establish new on-campus book clubs focusing on specific genres or themes.”
Staff can contact the bookshop team to discuss using the shop’s spaces for future lunch-time book club meetings at events@bookshop.unsw.edu.au.
Visit the UNSW Press website to subscribe to the Off the Page newsletter for more information on upcoming releases and events.
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