The Hawthorn Press was established by Jack Gartner, a professional printer, at his home in Hawthorn, Melbourne, as a private press. In the 1940s it moved to general publishing and printing and by the 1960s was a fully commercial concern, while continuing to publish some private press books. Gartner ceased commercial printing and moved his premises to Little Bourke Street in Melbourne City in 1968, where he published about 40 titles a year. In 1970 the press launched the series 'Hawthorn Poets'. The Press closed down following a fire at the premises, and the last title was issued in 1980. The University of Melbourne Library houses as a special collection most of the books published by the Hawthorn Press.
Hawthorn Press gained international recognition for the quality of its publications. In his book Private Presses and Australia (1972) Geoffrey Farmer says ' ... in the volume of his work and its quiet typographical worth he ranks as one of the great Australian printers. Gartner's books ... all show a meticulous attention to the principles of design, a strong feeling for the traditional aspects of typography and a complete command of presswork.' For further information see Michael Denholm's Small Press Publishing in Australia.
