Brian Hansford

Brian Hansford lives in Samford Valley, Queensland, Australia. He is an Emeritus Professor (QUT) who has published books on a wide range of topics including, education and teaching, Australian native plants, and the history of a small-town Australian Rules football club.

Following retirement, Brian became concerned that the history of ordinary people, the 'small cogs' that contributed to building Australia, rather than the well-known ‘big names’, was being lost. He published Always Believe Your Grandfather (2008), The Elusive Archibald Young (2016), William Jubb: From Promise to Disaster (2018) and Hannah and Friends (2022) that all explore the lives of interesting and incredible everyday Australians born in 1800’s.

The most recent publication, Hannah & Friends, documents an incredible woman who was before her time. As an innkeeper on the Brisbane River in the 1840-50s, she lived a tough life and stood up for herself in a male-dominated society. Hannah could be regarded as an early advocate of women’s rights.