Chapter I: Preface

For five years, during my residence in Australia, I had the privilege of contributing to the English _Christian World_ a large number of articles on life in the Commonwealth. These articles excited a great amount of interest amongst all classes, and brought me a vast correspondence, which made it abundantly clear that even well-educated people at home know little about the inner life of Australia. This book is an attempt to throw some light upon that far-off country, and to make Australia “live.” Many books have been written about the Commonwealth, but none quite on the lines of the following pages. In a series of impressionist sketches various phases of Australian life are set forth--the life in the midst of which I worked. The editor of the _Christian World_ has generously permitted me to make free use of the articles I contributed to that journal. I gratefully acknowledge this kindness.

FREDERIC C. SPURR.

_Regent’s Park Chapel,
London, N.W._

CONTENTS

PAGE
FOREWORD: AUSTRALIA’S PLACE IN THE EMPIRE 1

CHAPTER
1. GOING TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH 12

2. THE GOLDEN WEST 18

3. AN ACCOMPLISHED MIRACLE AND A PREDICTION 26

4. ADELAIDE, THE QUEEN CITY OF AUSTRALIA 37

5. THE ROMANCE OF MELBOURNE 46

6. THE BEAUTY OF SYDNEY 54

7. AT BOTANY BAY 64

8. BRISBANE, THE QUEEN CITY OF THE NORTH 72

9. QUEENSLAND, THE RICH UNPEOPLED STATE 79

10. THE ROMANCE OF QUEENSLAND SUGAR 87

11. THE AUSTRALIAN WINTER AND SPRING 95

12. BUSH HOLIDAYS 108

13. SOME BUSH YARNS 114

14. A HONEYMOON IN THE BUSH 122

15. THE HIGHWAYMEN OF THE BUSH 130

16. A SQUATTER’S HOME AND DAUGHTER 138

17. THE HARDSHIPS OF THE BUSH 146

18. AMONGST THE ABORIGINES 153

19. THE GOLDEN CITIES 160

20. THE MIRACLE OF THE MALLEE 174

21. THE ANNUAL SHOWS 182

22. AN INTERLUDE: A DUST STORM IN SUMMER 188

23. CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA 192

24. SOCIAL LIFE IN AUSTRALIA 201

25. LABOUR CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIA 209

26. DEAD FLIES IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT 218

27. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS 231

28. RELIGION IN AUSTRALIA 238

29. IN VAN DIEMEN’S LAND--AN IMPRESSION 257

30. THE ROMANCE OF TASMANIA 265

31. A PARADISE OF FRUIT 274

32. THE OUTLOOK IN TASMANIA 282

33. REVIEW 289

FIVE YEARS UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS