History of Australia

by Rusden, George William

• ISBN13: 9781108030571
• ISBN10: 1108030572
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-29
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

General condition of Australia and statistics

Further alterations of constitutions

Exploration and aborigines

Powers of houses of parliament âÇô intercameral differences âÇô attack on the council in Sydney âÇô tacks in Victoria âÇô Sir C. Darling

Payment of members âÇô colonial defences âÇô imperial relations âÇô reform bills in Australia âÇô parliaments of South Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, and council of Western Australia

Religion and education âÇô governors âÇô labour-trades and kidnapping âÇô Fiji âÇô judicial and jury systems âÇô public works âÇô free selection of land in New South Wales âÇô education in Victoria

Governors âÇô alienation of crown lands in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia âÇô New Guinea âÇô statistics and general condition of Australia

Index

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