Cirrus@Austlit

A.A.A. began in the year of federation, sounding a nationalistic note: it would publish 'high-class literature' and its stories would be about 'anything done by an Australian that is worthy of being chronicled'. Its standard content involved genial pars and character sketches about politics (but little political commentary), theatre, music and film, and society and fashion, as well as overseas notes and notables. It became increasingly oriented towards a female and domestic readership, with stories for children, cartoon jokes, and extensive illustrated coverage of department stores. From November 1903 throughout 1904, it ran a series of sketches of types of Girl (theatrical, regional, and seasonal types). Again, in 1907, George Taylor's (q.v.) 'The Quest for the Australian Girl' was illustrated with sketches by leading artists, including D. H. Souter (q.v.), Norman Lindsay (q.v.), Sass, and Mabelle Edmonds. At the beginning of 1905, it decreased its page size, increased the number of pages and the number and quality of photographs, and doubled its price. It enhanced its tourism orientation, showcasing first New Zealand ('Australia's Great Recreation Ground'), then other picturesque destinations. It occasionally addressed issues of race and the White Australia Policy. It began a new series (Vol.8, no.4 NS) in January 1908, under a new title -- Australian Magazine -- 'as the old title had outlived its usefulness'.