| The Archer family played a large role in the development of the Rockhampton
district - their
lives have no part in this novel however, Neusiedler, the homestead of this book is
loosely based on an Archer family homestead built by Colin Archer in 1858. The run was
originally known a Farris (1854) and located seven miles west of Rockhampton - it was later
named Gracemere in honour of Thomas Archer’s wife, Grace*.
Today, Gracemere is a thriving
community on the outskirts of Rockhampton.
Stone Country is true to the spirit and nature of Central Queensland and is woven around some of Central Queensland’s history but the characters, families, homesteads and many of the events portrayed, are imaginary. There is no record of a massacre at Pink Lily nor at Anakie - these killings are fictional: the massacre of white settlers at Cullin-la-ringo in 1861 is fact. The author is mindful of sensitivity regarding the use of derogatory terminology directed towards Aboriginal people however, these attitudes did not exist in the 19th century where the story takes place and the use of some words is in keeping with that era. The following are some of the events in Central Queensland history used as a backdrop for Stone Country: Immigration - the backbone of Central Queensland - many migrants were German; the use of Native Mounted Police to kill their own race in the name of the Law; the multiplicity of pastoral problems which beset early settlers - both to the east and in the west; the construction of the Great Western Railway to Anakie (1879); the discovery of sapphires at Retreat Creek (Anakie ca. 1875) and the quest to find markets for Queensland meat and precious stones. Stone Country and its imaginary characters will bring these events to life with, in many instances, chilling reality.*Recollections of a Rambling Life - Thomas Archer 1897. Facsimile edition with supplementary text, Boolarong Publications 1988. |