History of AustraliaWhen 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. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acres Adelaide adopted advisers amendments amongst appointed Appropriation Bill Assembly assent Attorney-General became Berry Bowen Burke Childers clause colleagues colonists Committee conference Constitution Act Cooper's Creek Cowper Crown lands Darling Deas Thomson declared Denison denounced desire despatch districts Duffy duty Earl elected electors England favour friends gold gold-fields Governor grant Haines Higinbotham honour hoped immigration Imperial labour Latrobe Legislative Council Legislature Lord John Lord John Russell Majesty's majority manner McCulloch Melbourne ment Minister Ministry Money Bills natives nominated O'Shanassy obtained opinion Parliament Parliamentary passed pastoral payment of members persons population Premier principle proposed Queen Queensland question received rejected resolution responsible government revenue sanction schools sent Sir Charles Darling Sir Charles Hotham Sir George Bowen Sladen South Australia South Wales Speaker suffrage Sydney Tasmania tion Treasurer Upper House Victoria votes Wentworth Western Australia Zealand