Rochford Press was established in 1983 and is one of the smallest and oldest literary presses in Australia.
It publishes the on-line journal Rochford Street Review as well as the occasional literary journal P76 Rochford Street Review is an on-line journal reviewing new Australian writing – with an emphasis on poetry and small press publications. While Rochford Street Review is published quarterly, reviews will be uploaded to the site as they are received. We will also attempt to cover as many publications (both traditional and on-line) as we can.
08/02/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Vivid word pictures: Rosemary Nissen-Wade reviews ‘My Animal Life’ by Elspeth Findlay
"I knew from her performances that Elspeth’s poetry was arrestingly good – both highly entertaining and very well crafted. I didn’t know just how good until I read this collection."
I knew from her performances that Elspeth’s poetry was arrestingly good – both highly entertaining and very well crafted. I didn’t know just how good until I read this collection.
08/02/2025
On the centenary of Francis Webb's birth we are republishing Robert Adamson's essay 'Something Absolutely Splendid – Robert Adamson on Francis Webb' which first appeared in the Special Robert Adamson Tribute Issue
From the beginning Francis Webb has sought that ‘so tender voyaging line of truth’, single-mindedly, and with a somewhat disconcerting unawareness of the fashionable poetry of his time. He has been…
07/02/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Francis Webb Centenary – 8 February 2025
Francis Webb will forever be the ultimate ‘poet’s poet’, but he belongs to all Australians and this milestone is a chance to reflect on his legacy which elevates us all.
Francis Webb will forever be the ultimate ‘poet’s poet’, but he belongs to all Australians and this milestone is a chance to reflect on his legacy which elevates us all.
05/02/2025
We are looking for expressions of interest for a review of the reprint of The Seal Woman by Beverley Farmer. Please email us, DM us or express you interests in the comments.
First published to acclaim in 1992, The Seal Woman is a portrait of a widow in mourning by one of Australia’s most important women writers, Beverley Farmer.
04/02/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. A slow reassembling of pieces: Adrienne Eberhard launches ‘Afterlife’ by Kathryn Lomer
"The title, Afterlife, works in two ways. The first is as a literal afterlife, the kind many different cultures believe in, the life after death that is a kind of immortality. A number of poems in this collection explore this concept and our human need for reassurance that there will be a life after death".
The title, Afterlife, works in two ways. The first is as a literal afterlife, the kind many different cultures believe in, the life after death that is a kind of immortality. A number of poems in t…
03/02/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Highly polished, subtle and filmic : Anne Casey launches ‘Separation Blues: Poems 1994-2024’ by Nathanael O’Reilly
Nat’s poetry is highly polished, subtle and filmic in its detail. ‘Separation Blues’ is, I believe, Nat’s thirteenth book – and what a gorgeous production it is! Within its pages – which span more than four decades – you will find his characteristic precision and concision; powerful opening lines and dramatic closes; razor-sharp observation; clipped phrases; as well as skillfully painted portraits of people, places and eras.
Nat’s poetry is highly polished, subtle and filmic in its detail. ‘Separation Blues’ is, I believe, Nat’s thirteenth book – and what a gorgeous production it is! Within its pages – which span more …
01/02/2025
Revisiting ‘Season of Brigid’ by Anne Casey, Performed by Davog Rynne
It seems appropriate at this time of the year to revisit this piece which first appeared in Rochford Street Review on 9 August 2021 as part of Issue 32.
‘Season of Brigid’ is a poem from Anne Casey’s new collection, The Light we Cannot See, and was also a cornerstone piece in the series of Irish cultural shows Anne performed in la…
31/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Ciarán O’Rourke: 5 Poems
Ciarán O’Rourke is a poet from Dublin. His second collection, Phantom Gang, was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2023. His third collection is forthcoming from The Irish Pages Press.
Ciarán O’Rourke is a poet from Dublin. His second collection, Phantom Gang, was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize in 2023. His third collection is forthcoming from The Irish Pages Press.…
27/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Love of the small, beautiful details: Jane Frank launches ‘Small Epiphanies’ by David Terelinck.
"I’ve been savouring Small Epiphanies over the last few weeks. Savouring is the perfect word because these poems are intricately layered with sensual detail and richly textured."
I’ve been savouring Small Epiphanies over the last few weeks. Savouring is the perfect word because these poems are intricately layered with sensual detail and richly textured.
25/01/2025
Rochford Street Review - revisiting 'AUSTRALIA' – a poem by Rae Desmond Jones - first published on 26 January 2019
AUSTRALIA is from Rae’s final collection of poetry The End of the Line, Rochford Press 2019. The End of the Line is available from the Rochford Cottage Bookshop at the same price of $15 (norm…
25/01/2025
Rochford Street Review. Revisiting Burraga Gutya (Ken Canning) on 26 January 2025 - first published 4 years ago
Who is going to sing? Come let us all rejoice for we are young and free — To the young Mother sitting in red dust besides a dry river in 4th world conditions in a nation appalled by the 3rd w…
25/01/2025
Today, Rochford Street Review stands with First Nations People across the country. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.
23/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. A wild ride: Mike Ladd reviews ‘Tadpoems 400 Shorts’ by Tug Dumbly.
"As Rae Desmond Jones said in his introduction to The Selected Your Friendly Fascist, “Poetry can tend to sombre pomposity, or the self-consciously polite.” Tug Dumbly is certainly not that. He’s more in the ratbag tradition of Your Friendly Fascist. He dares to rhyme and even worse – pun, both practices deeply frowned upon by most of the poetry gatekeepers in Australia today. It’s a middle finger to serious taste".
As Rae Desmond Jones said in his introduction to The Selected Your Friendly Fascist, “Poetry can tend to sombre pomposity, or the self-consciously polite.” Tug Dumbly is certainly not t…
22/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. A rich, hybrid environment. Judith Beveridge talks to Jean Kent and Martin Kent about ‘Paris Light’
"I think this is a marvellous and engrossing publication which so beautifully showcases how the two art forms complement and enhance each other – there haven’t been too many collaborations between differing artists in Australian poetry – I can think of Jennifer Rankin’s Earth Hold which had some illustrations by John Olsen. The Language of Oysters which has poems by Robert Adamson and photographs by Juno Gemes. Arthur Boyd and Peter Porter did some collaborative work and there have been many examples of individual ekphrastic poems, but these are not ekphrastic poems nor ekphrastic paintings as such, there are two distinct imaginations responding to Paris at work in this book." Judith Beveridge.
I think this is a marvellous and engrossing publication which so beautifully showcases how the two art forms complement and enhance each other – there haven’t been too many collaborations between d…
19/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Helen Swain: 5 Poems from ‘Calibrating Home’
Helen Swain lives and works in lutrawita/Tasmania on the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Helen has been a performer in Theatre in Education, worked in Community Theatre, was a High School English teacher and for many years taught English as Another Language with new Migrant and Refugee arrivals. She is currently a Poet in Residence with Inscape Arts working in the public health sector. Celebrating Home (Five Islands Press) is her third book of poetry.
Helen Swain lives and works in lutrawita/Tasmania on the foothills of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Helen has been a performer in Theatre in Education, worked in Community Theatre, was a High School Engli…
17/01/2025
Rochford Street Review Issue 41. Jennifer Harrison: 6 Poems
Jennifer Harrison has written eight books of poetry, most recently Anywhy (Black Pepper 2018). She is Chair of the World Psychiatry Association’s Section for Art and Psychiatry and received the 2012 Christopher Brennan Award for sustained contribution to Australian poetry.
Jennifer Harrison has written eight books of poetry, most recently Anywhy (Black Pepper 2018). She is Chair of the World Psychiatry Association’s Section for Art and Psychiatry and received the 201…
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Rochford Press is one of the smallest Australian literary presses having been established by Mark Roberts in 1983 as a vehicle to publish 7 issues of P76 Magazine. The press has always operated independent of any government funding, and has continued to contribute to the small press poetry scene of this country. Rochford Press is committed to publishing creative and critical writing which pushes boundaries and stands out from the everyday. It is run by Mark Roberts and Linda Adair and is based in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
Since 2011 to the present time, we have published 26 issues of the online critical journal Rochford Street Review as well as producing several chapbooks and books including: Robbie Coburn’s first collection Before Bone & Viscera, Stevi-Lee Alvers Cactus and The Selected Your Friendly Fascist based on the cult poetry magazine established by Rae Desmond Jones and John Edwards in the 1970s.
2019 has seen resurgence of energy in Rochford Press as Linda Adair has driven the publishing program. Within the first half of 2019 the press has edited, produced, and launched the following three books:
The End of the Line by Rae Desmond Jones
When I was Clandestine by Juan Garrido Salgado
Open by Sarah St Vincent Welch
Additionally we promoted them by arranging launches and readings around the country ranging from venues such as The Exodus Foundation, Shop Gallery and Ashfield Library in Sydney, to the Press Bookhouse as part of the Newcastle Writers Festival, That Poetry Thing at Smiths Alternative in Canberra, The Dan O’Connell in Melbourne, a nightclub in Adelaide and Voicebox in Perth.
Most recently Rochford Street Review has partnered with creatives in the Blue Mountains to promote exhibitions by MAPBM and has produced a website for Vivienne Dadour’s exhibition Resilience in Times of Adversity: Blue Mountains responses to World War II.
More chapbooks will be coming in the next 6 months including from Blue Mountains writers and other regional areas.
Rochford Press was established in 1983 and is one of the smallest and oldest literary presses in Australia.
