AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT-L Archives

From: Lorraine Phelan <>
Subject: [GEELONG] Book review: 'Men of Yeaterday'
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 14:28:04 +1000

Hi listers. This is a review of a book I suggest you might like to look at.
Lorraine Phelan

'Men of Yesterday: a social history of the Western District of Victoria
1834-1890', Margaret Kiddle, Melbourne University Press, 1961

I first became acquainted with this book in 1983 when I was a mature-age
student at Deakin University. At the time I was juggling study, babies,
Kindergarten committee work, farming and, occasionally, housework. 'Men of
Yesterday' was the prescribed text for one of my Australian Studies
subjects. Usually, prescribed texts are referred to for essential purposes
only ( the assignment was due in yesterday!) but I read this text from
cover to cover and I've re-read it a number of times since and recommended
it ad nauseum. I did once lend it to a friend but it came back thankfully.
Margaret Kiddle (who also wrote 'Caroline Chisholm') writes in plain
English and has researched her subject thoroughly. The title of the book
is self-explanatory but I should perhaps say that while her emphasis is on
the squatting class, and how could you not include them in a social history
of the Western District, she also has a lot to say about other groups
within the society. She also discusses morality, Aborigines, women, gold
diggers, the battle for land ownership by the cockies, corruption,
buildings, life in the new towns. The bibliography, notes and index are
excellent.
Anyone with an interest in nineteenth century Victoria should put this high
on their reading list. See if it's in your local library, or order it in.

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• [GEELONG] Book review: 'Men of Yeaterday' by Lorraine Phelan <>