Has anyone ever heard of Colin Munro, let alone 'Fern Vale'? Yet this was the first Queensland novel, published in London in 1862. The author, of Scottish origin, was a young mercantile clerk who, after five years in Brisbane, returned to London to seek a wife and write a book. He returned to Brisbane in 1863 to become a storekeeper, merchant and Pacific trader. He later became a farmer and, while pursuing his agrarian dream in Queensland, this extraordinary man played out the purpose of his novel. Though written as a pastoral romance on the Darling Downs, the book's real aim was to attract migrants to the new colony during the optimistic 1860s. Taking its cue from the visionary Rev. Dr John D. Lang of Sydney, the novel, set in 1856-57, expounds the controversial issues of labour, industry and capital, as well as the tropical economy, land regulation, aboriginal policy, convict origin and separation from NSW.

"Fern Vale: Or The Queensland Squatter Vol. I" by way of Colin Munro is a captivating narrative set within the hard landscape of Queensland, Australia. The narrative recounts the problems and triumphs of squatter life through the protagonist's eyes. As settlers in a harsh and cruel environment, the people in "Fern Vale" face the pains of frontier existence. Munro offers a sparkling portrayal of existence on the Australian frontier, from the difficulties of clearing land and establishing homesteads to clashes with indigenous organizations. Amidst the harsh realities of survival, Munro weaves collectively themes of resilience, willpower, and the well-known spirit of adventure. Through fantastically sketched characters and evocative descriptions of the Queensland bush, "Fern Vale" transports readers to the untamed beauty and tough conditions of the Australian outback. As the collection's first installment, "Fern Vale" sets the putting for an epic narrative that explores Queensland's changing panorama and the lives of its citizens. Munro's super writing and eager insight into human enjoy make "Fern Vale" a charming study that transports readers to a bygone era of discovery and journey.

"Fern Vale: Or The Queensland Squatter Vol. III " by way of Colin Munro is a captivating narrative set within the hard landscape of Queensland, Australia. The narrative recounts the problems and triumphs of squatter life through the protagonist's eyes. As settlers in a harsh and cruel environment, the people in "Fern Vale" face the pains of frontier existence. Munro offers a sparkling portrayal of existence on the Australian frontier, from the difficulties of clearing land and establishing homesteads to clashes with indigenous organizations. Amidst the harsh realities of survival, Munro weaves collectively themes of resilience, willpower, and the well-known spirit of adventure. Through fantastically sketched characters and evocative descriptions of the Queensland bush, "Fern Vale" transports readers to the untamed beauty and tough conditions of the Australian outback. As the collection's first installment, "Fern Vale" sets the putting for an epic narrative that explores Queensland's changing panorama and the lives of its citizens. Munro's super writing and eager insight into human enjoy make "Fern Vale" a charming study that transports readers to a bygone era of discovery and journey.

"Fern Vale: Or The Queensland Squatter Vol. II " by way of Colin Munro is a captivating narrative set within the hard landscape of Queensland, Australia. The narrative recounts the problems and triumphs of squatter life through the protagonist's eyes. As settlers in a harsh and cruel environment, the people in "Fern Vale" face the pains of frontier existence. Munro offers a sparkling portrayal of existence on the Australian frontier, from the difficulties of clearing land and establishing homesteads to clashes with indigenous organizations. Amidst the harsh realities of survival, Munro weaves collectively themes of resilience, willpower, and the well-known spirit of adventure. Through fantastically sketched characters and evocative descriptions of the Queensland bush, "Fern Vale" transports readers to the untamed beauty and tough conditions of the Australian outback. As the collection's first installment, "Fern Vale" sets the putting for an epic narrative that explores Queensland's changing panorama and the lives of its citizens. Munro's super writing and eager insight into human enjoy make "Fern Vale" a charming study that transports readers to a bygone era of discovery and journey.

"By the Book is an indispensable history of the literature of Queensland from its establishment as a separate colony in the mid-nineteenth century through major economic, political and cultural transformations to the beginning of the twenty-first century. Queensland figures in the Australian imagination as a frontier, a place of wild landscapes and wilder politics, but also as Australia's playground, a soft tourist paradise of warm weather and golden beaches. Based partly on real historical divergences from the rest of Australia, these contradictory images have been questioned and scrutini.

This study evolved from the author’s examination of a series of sketches undertaken by a young Englishman during his sojourn in Brisbane, the seat of government of the newly created Colony of Queensland. Initial research revealed a somewhat hazy outline of his ancestry and early life, until an independent researcher in the UK, preparing a photographic study of his subsequent built legacy, discovered a key piece of the jigsaw. This book is the culmination of the author’s subsequent research, carried out in three corners of the globe, which now shines a definitive light on the lineage of Richard Harding Watt. He was a wealthy business man and developer of a number of distinctive heritage listed buildings in Knutsford, perhaps best known as the model for Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel Cranford.