Longacre Press

Longacre Press was established in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1995 by Barbara Larson, Paula Boock, and Lynsey Ferrari. All three founders had previously worked for McIndoe Publishing in Dunedin, giving the new company an experienced foundation within the local publishing industry. Its first premises were on Dowling Street, near Dunedin's Exchange neighbourhood. The press later relocated to Moray Place in the city centre. The company built a diverse publishing programme. Its nonfiction output covered self-help, food, outdoor activities, and natural history. This practical and subject-led work was complemented by junior and young-adult fiction. Longacre also published books by prominent New Zealand writers, including Owen Marshall, Brian Turner, Lynley Hood, and Jack Lasenby. The breadth of the list allowed the company to operate across commercial nonfiction, children's publishing, youth fiction, and literary work rather than being identified with only one category. Longacre gained recognition through the national awards received by several of its books. These awards, together with its publication of established and important New Zealand writers, made the press a visible contributor to the country's domestic publishing culture. Its Dunedin base also distinguished it from publishers concentrated in New Zealand's larger commercial centres. In 2003, Longacre expanded by taking on the catalogue of Shoal Bay Press, a Christchurch publisher. The move increased the scale and depth of Longacre's catalogue. At approximately the same time, distribution of Longacre's books shifted from Macmillan Books to Random House. This distribution change provided a connection to a larger publishing and bookselling network while Longacre continued to be identified as a distinct press. Random House acquired Longacre Press in 2009. The transaction brought the Dunedin publisher under the ownership of a major publishing company. The available sources do not provide enough information to determine the later fate of the Longacre name, its staff, or its catalogue as a separate imprint. Accordingly, the brand's current status remains unknown rather than being classified definitively as active or defunct.

• 2009

  Acquisition by Random House

  [1]Longacre Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Random House acquires Longacre Press.

• 2003

  Shoal Bay Press catalogue added

  [1]Longacre Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Longacre takes on the catalogue of Shoal Bay Press of Christchurch.

• 2003

  Distribution moves to Random House

  [1]Longacre Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Distribution of Longacre's books changes from Macmillan Books to Random House.

• 1995

  Longacre Press is founded in Dunedin

  [1]Longacre Pressen.wikipedia.org

  Barbara Larson, Paula Boock, and Lynsey Ferrari establish Longacre Press after working at McIndoe Publishing.

A Dunedin-based New Zealand publisher with a broad, locally focused list spanning practical nonfiction, natural history, children's and young-adult fiction, and literary work by New Zealand authors.

• Book publishing

  Nonfiction

  Longacre's nonfiction programme covered practical and subject-based categories including self-help, food, outdoor pursuits, and natural history. These titles formed an important part of the press's broad publishing identity alongside its fiction and literary lists.

• Children's and young-adult publishing

  Junior and young-adult fiction

  The press published fiction for junior and young-adult readers, contributing to New Zealand's children's and youth-literature market. The available reference material identifies this as a core publishing area but does not provide a complete title-by-title catalogue.

• Literary publishing

  New Zealand literary works

  Longacre published work by New Zealand authors including Owen Marshall, Brian Turner, Lynley Hood, and Jack Lasenby. Several books from the company's list won national book awards, strengthening its reputation as a publisher of significant domestic writing.

• 2009

  Acquisition by Random HouseM&A

  Background

  After operating as a Dunedin publishing company for roughly fourteen years, Longacre became the subject of a corporate acquisition.

  Action taken

  Random House acquired Longacre Press.

  Aftermath

  Longacre moved from independent ownership into the Random House group. The available source does not establish whether the brand remained active as a separate imprint.

  Source

• 2003

  Takeover of the Shoal Bay Press catalogueM&A

  Background

  Longacre expanded its catalogue by taking on the publishing list of Shoal Bay Press, based in Christchurch.

  Action taken

  The Shoal Bay Press catalogue was incorporated into Longacre's publishing operation.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Longacre's catalogue. The available source does not specify the detailed commercial terms or the treatment of individual titles.

  Source

• 2003

  Change in distribution partnerStrategy

  Background

  Longacre's books had previously been distributed by Macmillan Books.

  Action taken

  Distribution was transferred to Random House around the time Longacre took on the Shoal Bay Press catalogue.

  Aftermath

  The change connected Longacre's titles with Random House's distribution network, although the source does not provide performance figures or further operational detail.

  Source

1. 1Longacre Pressen.wikipedia.org