History of Australia

A wide-ranging three-volume history of Australia, published in 1883 by an English-born civil servant who spent his career there.

George William Rusden (Author)

9781108030571, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 April 2011

714 pages
21.6 x 4 x 14 cm, 0.89 kg

When George William Rusden (1819–1903) was fourteen, his family emigrated from England to Australia, where he later became a prominent educationalist and civil servant. Already an author of numerous books and pamphlets, he began work on his History of Australia after his retirement, and it was published in 1883 in three volumes. Although the work is considered sympathetic to the Aboriginal people of Australia, it is also infused with Rusden's Tory politics, infuriating his critics – one wrote that the volumes were 'as untrustworthy as a partisan pamphlet well can be without deliberate dishonesty'. Despite initial criticism, these wide-ranging volumes form an important early contribution to the writing of Australian history. Volume 3 is mainly devoted to political matters, especially the Constitution Act of 1856 and the relationship between the colony and Britain. Rusden also gives a brief sketch of the governors who took office from this period onwards.

15. General condition of Australia and statistics
16. Further alterations of constitutions
17. Exploration and aborigines
18. Powers of houses of parliament – intercameral differences – attack on the council in Sydney – tacks in Victoria – Sir C. Darling
19. Payment of members – colonial defences – imperial relations – reform bills in Australia – parliaments of South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, and council of Western Australia
20. Religion and education – governors – labour-trades and kidnapping – Fiji – judicial and jury systems – public works – free selection of land in New South Wales – education in Victoria
21. Governors – alienation of crown lands in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia – New Guinea – statistics and general condition of Australia
Index.

Subject Areas: Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM]