Our Story
Where family history matters
The Lane Press was born through the belief that family history should exist as something you can treasure, hold and share; not as memories that fade over time or a family tree that grows in an online world. Founded by mother-daughter duo Elizabeth Lane and Louise Lane, we knew there had to be a better way to preserve these stories. Our company was created as one way to achieve this.
We started with an idea: to publish an old diary for use within the family. That quickly grew into Outback Penguin: Richard Lane’s Barwell Diaries. From there we have partnered with a strong alliance of Australian talent, and The Lane Press continues to grow with a range of custom publications across multiple genres and media, from family and business history to Australian steampunk YA fiction.
We have been fortunate to establish close friendships and a professional collaboration with fellow bibliophiles, literary enthusiasts, award-winning writers Stuart and Fiona Kells.
We understand how precious family stories are—and how important it is to preserve them in ways that can be shared across generations. Our shared passions for family history, research, design and publishing make for a great working combination.
Elizabeth Lane
Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard and Betty (née Snow) Lane, was born in London into a family of book lovers. She currently lives in Melbourne where she manages The Lane Press and is a volunteer at the Archives of Scotch College, Hawthorn.
Her passion for research and family history has motivated her to re-examine the past and bring these narratives to life. Notably, she co-authored Snow’s and the Golden Age of Australian Department Stores, served as co-publisher of Outback Penguin: Richard Lane’s Barwell Diaries, and has contributed to numerous forthcoming publications.
Louise Lane
Louise is the grand-daughter of Richard and Betty Lane, and has held diverse roles in digital advertising, strategy, analytics, and publishing. In 2015 she co-founded The Lane Press with her mother Elizabeth Lane. With a Media and Communications degree from The University of Melbourne, Louise conducted research at The Penguin Books Archive at the University of Bristol. This research contributed to Stuart Kells’ award-winning Penguin and the Lane Brothers. Additionally, she has collaborated on various books, including the most recent publication, Snow’s and the Golden Age of Australian Department Stores.
Suriving serveral moves and an accidental Red Cross jumble sale, Richard Lane’s diaries, along with his books, working papers, artwork and family correspondence have found their final home with The University of Melbourne Library.