Jacaranda Software was an Australian developer and publisher of educational computer games for children. It was based in Brisbane, Australia and published under the leadership of John Collins. The team worked as a department of Jacaranda-Wiley; the Australian imprint of American publishing company, Wiley. While it was considered initially as an experimental venture, it proved to be profitable from its first year through to its closure in the early 1990s. Jacaranda Software released titles for a range of computer systems, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, Macintosh, Microbee and BBC Micro.
After the department closed, former employees David Smith, Bruce Mitchell, and Steve Luckett continued to write software for schools, under the name Greygum Software. They bought remaining stock, rights, and equipment from Jacaranda. Popular Jacaranda titles included Goldfields, Kraken: a deep sea quest, Desert Quest and Crossing the Mountains.
Greygum Software closed in 2018 due to the retirement of its owners.
Releases Title Year Known Versions ReferencesAnimal Rescue1989Apple IIBush Rescue1987Apple II, BBCCardsharp1988Apple II, BBCCave Surveyor 1985BBCClockwise: Time activities for the whole primary school 1992Apple II, BBCCrossing the Mountains1989Apple II, BBCCunning Running1984Apple II, C64, MicrobeeDesert Quest1984Apple II, BBC, MacintoshDinosaur Discovery1985Apple II, BBCFleetfoot Express1992Apple IIGold-Dust Island1984Apple II, BBC, C64, MicrobeeGoldfields1986Apple II, BBC, C64, DOS, Macintosh, Windows Jacaranda Maths 10 Software1989Kraken: A deep-sea quest1989Apple II, BBC, C64, MacintoshMaths Bingo1991Apple II, BBCPaws1986Apple IIPieces of Eight1986Quick-Cartage Company1984Apple II, BBC, C64, MicrobeeRaft-Away River1984Apple II, BBC, C64, MicrobeeScavenger Hunt 1984Apple II, BBC, MicrobeeSheep-Dog Trial1984Apple II, C64, MicrobeeTerra Australis: Voyages of trade and discovery 1988Apple II, BBCTransformations1986Apple II, BBCThe Tycoon Itch1986Apple II, BBC, C64Vegetable Patch1987Apple IIVote 11986Apple II, BBCWordsmith1985Apple II, BBCWordswork 1985Apple II, BBCWheat Farmer1990Apple II, BBCZoopak1987Apple II, BBC
External links Greygum Software - stockists of several former Jacaranda Software titles Using Computers in the Primary School by Rosemary Guttormsen (1987 Apple Computer Australia) - Apple educational handbook mentions Jacaranda Software among others
References