PIX by Margot Riley

The magazine that shocked, entertained and informed Australians like never before.

PIX magazine hit Australian newsstands in January 1938 and went on to become one of the country’s most popular newsweeklies, national in scope and read by millions. With a mix of scandal and sensationalism, cover girls and human-interest stories, and covering fashion, politics, scientific innovation, pop culture and entertainment, what was most distinctive about PIX was its compelling black-and-white photos. Drawing from the extraordinary image collection at the State Library of NSW, and including an essay from ABC Radio presenter Kate Evans, this is the first book to celebrate PIX magazine and its unforgettable photography.

The magazine that shocked, entertained and informed Australians like never before is celebrated in a new book.

About the Author:

Margot Riley is a cultural historian and curator at the State Library of NSW. She has expertise in photography, fashion and popular culture, and has written and lectured extensively about the Library’s collections. She has researched and curated a wide range of exhibitions for the Library, including On Sale!: Shops and ShoppingAustralian Glamour: Model, Photographer, MagazineFlashback: 160 years of fashion photosMemories on GlassComing Out in the 70sHow’s Tricks: Magic in the Golden Age and, most recently, PIX: The magazine that changed everything.

Dr Kate Evans is a radio producer, presenter and critic. She joined Radio National in the 1990s and has worked on historical programs, including Hindsight and Rear Vision, and ideas programs such as Australia Talks, Movie Time and Life Matters. More recently she has specialised in literature, as co-host of The Bookshelf since 2018. She regularly interviews local and international authors onstage, writes monthly reviews for ABC online, and appears on TV as a critic and books commentator. She is also a regular contributor to Openbook, the magazine of the State Library of NSW. Her PhD was a cultural history of press photography in Australia.

01 Nov 2025
 

PIX: The Magazine that told Australia’s Story by Margot Riley ISBN 9781761170553