The Last Station by Nicole Alexander is set in 19th century New South Wales. Once covered by vast sheep stations that sent their premium wool down the Darling River by paddle-steamer to be sold in South Australia, the trade is slowly dying.
The formerly prosperous Dalhunty family, whose sheep station was once home to over 80 people, is finding it difficult to survive and debts are mounting.
It is the summer of 1909, the somewhat eccentric, Benjamin Dalhunty, and his son, Julian, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the paddle-steamer, Lady Matilda, the first vessel to navigate the river in two years.
They are relying on it to transport their very last wool clip to be sold at market.
Julian, now 20 years old, is resentful of the future that has been destined from the time of his birth. He needs more than the arduous life on a dilapidated station.
Then his mother brings a street-smart young man home after a visit to Sydney…….
Ethan Harris’ arrival shocks Julian and his siblings and resentment sets in when Benjamin takes Ethan under his wing!
However, it does provide Julian with the means to escape as he and Ethan set out on a perilous journey down the Darling River and west into wild and savage lands.
Will they live to tell the tale?
This is another wonderfully elaborated descriptive novel of rural life in 19th century Australia by this talented author.
The reader can almost feel the heat, taste the dust, smell the eucalypts, the river, and the fumes from the paddle-steamer!
She has created some wonderful characters and described the historical idiosyncrasies of the period with much attention to detail.
Tension builds as the story unfolds and culminates in an edge of the seat rodeo ride. Will it end in disaster, retribution, death or survival?
A must-read for 2022
ISBN:9781760898229
The Last Station is available in paperback, e-book and audiobook
About Nicole Alexander
Nicole Alexander has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing and her novels, poetry, travel, writing and genealogy articles have been published in Australia, America, Singapore, New Zealand, Germany, Ukraine and Canada. She is the author of ten novels:The Bark Cutters, A Changing Land, Absolution Creek, Sunset Ridge, The Great Plains, Wild Lands, River Run, An Uncommon Woman, Stone Country and The Cedar Tree. Nicole lives in north-west NSW.
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