Describes how an Australian farmer co-operative movement began on the south coast of NSW in the late 19th century and grew into a major player in 20th century agriculture and an important rural community developer. Provides an explanation for why co-operatives have made less of an impact than their potential suggested.

Ch. 1. The New South Wales and Victorian dairy co-operative movements to World War One -- Ch. 2. A march of regulation : farmer co-operatives in the inter-war years -- Ch. 3. 'It is time to deregulate the sacred cow' : the post-war dairy co-operative movement -- Ch. 4. The South Australian co-operative movement : an outline -- Ch. 5. The Queensland co-operative movement : an outline -- Ch. 6. 'Democracy tomorrow' : the Western Australian co-operative movement -- Ch. 7. 'Is anyone out there?' : the Victorian co-operative movement -- Ch. 8. A movement adrift : New South Wales co-operative development 1944-c1987 -- Ch. 9. 'Co-ops 2000' : New South Wales co-operative development 1988-c2000 -- Ch. 10. The producers and consumers cannot co-operate : the Co-operative Federation of Australia 1943-c1985 -- Ch. 11. Competition, deregulation and the 'co-operative dilemma' -- Ch. 12. 'More than making money' : co-operatives seek national unity 1986-1996 -- Ch. 13. 'Let's co-operate' : co-operatives and the stock exchange in an age of demutualisation -- Ch. 14. A colonial relic : seeking uniform co-operatives' legislation 1985-2000 -- Ch. 15. 'Dry' shareholders, deregulation and capital adequacy : the Dairy Farmers' Co-operative to 1993 -- Ch. 16. 'Hazy horizons' : the Dairy Farmers' Group and 'partial' demutualization 1993-2004 -- Ch. 17. 'Missing in action' : farmer co-operatives in twentieth century Australia.

Includes bibliographical references and index.