Tony Abbott’s untold Australian story rewrites history books

Tony Abbott’s treatise on the true – and often untold – story of the nation’s past and his Sky News documentary series have both gone down in history.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott’s treatise on the true – and often untold – story of the nation’s past and the complementing Sky News Australia documentary have enjoyed sales and ratings success.

The three-part series become one of the most-watched documentaries Sky News has produced while the book, Australia: A History, is at the top of the Amazon bestseller list with the publishers already ordering a second printing run in excess of 20,000 copies to keep up with demand.

Mr Abbott first mentioned he was working on a manuscript about the untold story of Australia’s past and the challenges of its present to Paul Whittaker.

Excited by the concept, the Sky News boss personally pitched it to publishers HarperCollins and commissioned a three-part docu­men­tary series to run on Sky News.

The documentary’s premiere last Monday coincided with Hamas’s release of Israeli hos­tages, which saw the 24-hour news channel record its highest ratings of 2025, up more than 50 per cent on year-to-date averages.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott’s three-part series about the history of Australia is one of the most successful documentaries Sky News has ever produced while his book is already in reprint.

The series, which featured interviews with prominent Australians, historians and academics including Governor-General Sam Mostyn, former prime minister John Howard, Olympic champion and former Labor senator Nova Peris, billionaire entrepreneur Anthony Pratt and famed ballet dancer and Mao’s Last Dancer author Li Cunxin, performed equally well on Sky News’ regional free-to-air channel.

The total cumulative linear broadcast audience reach across all three parts on Foxtel and Sky News Regional was 446,200; the first full first-week Bookscan sales figures will be available on Thursday along with the hardcover’s official market chart position.

Mr Abbott interviews fellow former prime minister John Howard as part of his documentary.

Mr Abbott and ballet dancer and author Li Cunxin.

Mr Abbott said he was overwhelmed by the project’s success.

“I’m really pleased at the strong interest in learning more about our country’s story,” the former journalist said.

“People sense that if you want to grasp the present, it helps to delve into the past.”

Whittaker said the documentary and book celebrated the diversity, grit and ideals that have shaped the fabric of the nation; he hoped they had helped inspire young Australians to learn more about the country’s amazing past.