Confidence and Tradition: A History of the Esk Shire.

The Council of the Shire of Esk commissioned the writing of an authoritative history of the Esk Shire. It was made the shire's major Bicentennial project and Council commissioned Ruth Kerr in 1985 to complete it. The book was published by Christmas 1987.

The completed book was titled Confidence and Tradition: A History of the Esk Shire. The title was chosen to reflect the two outstanding characteristics that have been evident in the region - Confidence and Tradition. 

The book is a major history of the Brisbane Valley distilling the themes of the economy and lifestyle in a region which has maintained its considerable influence in the Moreton Region for 147 years. Innumerable names of past and present residents appear throughout the text but due to space constraints not all of them appear in the index. 

Each chapter of the book is accessible here:

Introduction
1. Exploration 
2. Pastoralism to Separation 
3. Land Equals Wealth 
4. Aborigines 
5. Mining 
6. Land Selection 
7. Agriculture 
8. Timber 
9. Dairying 
10. Local Government 
11. Transport 
12. Education 
13. Electricity and Lighting 
14. Roads and Bridges 
15. Military Activities 
16. Water Resources 
17. Health 
18. Commercial Life 
19. Cultural and Social Activities 
20. Sport and Associations 
21. Charitable and Cultural Organizations 
Conclusion 
List of Councillors 
Bibliography 
Index 
Map