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The What If Histories of Australia

Gold Rush: Going Gold Crazy

Published by Big Sky Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

An amusing look at the alternative paths that Australian history might have taken in Australia's Gold Rush.

The What If histories of Australia imagines a very different history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways. Starting by defining the real histories, the book then looks at possible paths of different settlements that history could have taken.

Gold Fever is what makes ordinary people act like completely crazy people . And there are plenty of examples of that in this book!

We all know that gold makes people act a bit crazy – but imagine just how crazy things would be if the 19th Century Australian colonies were all run by different countries. The French in modern day Victoria and British in modern day New South Wales would be busy coming up with crazy plans to steal each other’s gold. And indigenous people, diggers and bushrangers would have their own plans as to who should get the gold. As would a peculiar bushranger in armour, with plans to start a new Irish republic.

A very different and amusing history of Australia, where the unexpected happens in unexpected ways.

About The Author

Supplied by the author

Dr Craig Cormick OAM is an award-winning author and science communicator. He has published many more books than he has children and grandchildren (and he has four and three of those respectively). He was born on Dharawal Country – Wollongong – and has lived in the Blue Mountains and Queensland. He currently lives on Ngunnawal land in Canberra. He has been Chair of the ACT Writers Centre, co-host of the literary podcast Secrets from the Green Room, and has edited several magazines and books. He is drawn to stories of people whose voices have been hidden from history. Find him at wwwcraigcormick.com

Product Details

  • Publisher: Big Sky Publishing (September 21, 2022)
  • Length: 190 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781922615824
  • Ages: 7 - 12

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