AustLit

After years of working as a buyer for Angus and Robertson and as a sales representative for Cassell (British publisher), Lloyd O'Neil decided to launch his own press. Within the first three years it published nearly fifty titles - books about Australia written by Australians. Despite its literary successes, the company struggled financially and in 1963 O'Neil sold it to Cheshire publishing group. O'Neil was undeterred and started another two companies Lloyd O'Neil Pty Ltd and sister company Currey O'Neil both of which published Australian titles. In 1979 James Hardie bought Lansdowne and Ure Smith publishing houses and in 1984 sold 50% of Lansdowne-Rigby to Kevin Weldon, forming Weldon-Hardie. In 1987 O'Neil sold his publishing companies to Penguin.