Julia Eichardt. A Life of Grit and Grace

by Lauren Roche

Historical fiction detailing the life of Julia Shanahan, later Eichardt, a young Irish hotelier in gold rush Queenstown.
Her dream hotel, the Italianate Eichardt’s remains on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. A five-star tribute to her tenacity.

320 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Elaine Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ~ so much respect for Julia and women like her
Well done Lauren for capturing those days so well that I could “feel” them
A must read

[Aimee Paardekooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The local history of Queenstown was really interesting but what was more incredible was what Julia accomplished as a Women in 1800's Queenstown. Her Resilience, perseverance and forward thinking is inspirational.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - based on real life events - the author has a strong ability to draw you into a world that is long past, giving you a real feeling of being on the same journey while reading.

[Janette Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book just loved it and feel so proud to know you Lauren

[Leanne Yendell-Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written historical novel based on a true story which captured me from the first chapter.
I loved every twist and turn this story took me on. Having been to Queenstown many time’s I felt engaged with the place and characters in the story who I had a connection with throughout the book. Anybody who has visited and fell in love with Queenstown will love this book. I got the feeling it was well researched and I’m sure not any easy one, well done Lauren Roche. Excited to see what’s next from you

[Elspeth Everitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
An amazing story of a brave and inspiring woman.

As a child in the 1960’s , I spent many holidays in Queenstown, and as a teenager danced the night away in the night club that was part of the original Eichardt’s hotel.

[Libby Hay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Similar to other reviews - I read this because I love the history and the Eichardt hotell. but realistically the author didn't quite strike the right balance - it didn't quite have the depth of history or the depth of storytelling so read a little bit like a long history book.

[Natalie Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely powerful and captivating read! Beautifully written in every way, detailing the hardship of life for early European women. Their strength and resilience is so inspiring yet the sadness they had to endure is heart breaking.
I look forward to my next visit to Queenstown where I will definitely be checking out Julia Eichardt's hotel!
Thank you Lauren for yet another incredible book!

[Heather Riddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read on early Queenstown, and so cool to know the history of a beautiful establishment that I walked past everyday to school in the 60’s. And most written historical’s are about men, written by men. One very remarkable woman.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, a great step into the past.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟. It's a solid story of the Eichardt hotel in Queenstown, its founder Julia, and her life from Ireland to Australia and then on to New Zealand. Filled with facts and interwoven with some fiction, it nicely tells of a time in history.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read to the end because I was interested in local history and how a woman got on in Queenstown but not my best read of the month.

[Conor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julia's story is an remarkable one (scuse the pun), and whilst this book manages to extol her virtues I'm not sure I would describe it as particularly enjoyable.

It falls somewhere between a biography of Julia, a history of Queenstown and a novel. This blend is often an uncomfortable one, with events shoehorned in to give a sense of what was happening in the town, but are otherwise irrelevant, and Julia's indistinguishable family members making irregular appearances that serve only to confuse.

The epistolary technique sort of works, but felt to me like it was sometimes used as a slightly lazy way of letting the reader know what Julia was feeling. Show me, don't tell me.

Like any historical novel, this one is confronted with the tension between the mundanity of most people's everyday lives and the necessity of crafting an engaging narrative with well-developed characters. I'm not sure if Roche quite nails this.

A pretty easy travel read. In true mug punter fashion, I bought this in the airport leaving Queenstown being suckered in by the setting, the fact we had visited Eichardts the previous day and the link to Ireland (which was effectively non-existent).

[Hannah Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Book 5 of 2026**
*Julia Eichardt: A Life of Grit and Grace* by Lauren Roche

Just finished this book and wow. As someone who loves history, I was so excited to receive it for Christmas — and it did not disappoint.

What Julia accomplished as a woman in the 1800s is truly incredible. She endured so much loss and heartbreak, yet fought relentlessly to build a life of strength, independence, and legacy. I cried during the last few chapters.

The history of Queenstown woven through this story is fascinating, and reading it has given me a whole new appreciation for the place. I can’t wait to visit again with Julia’s story in mind. A powerful, emotional read about resilience, courage, and an extraordinary woman.

Got this book in the gold mining place in Queenstown. I think paperplus have this book too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bookrecomendations #nzauthor #historicalfiction #womeninhistory #bookstagram

[Charlotte Lobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who loves reading about the past, or for those ready to be swept into the rich world of historical fiction, I highly recommend 'Julia Eichardt' by Lauren Roche. Based on real-life events, this stunning novel not only immerses you in the remarkable story of Julia Eichardt and the world of hoteliers, but also paints a vivid picture of Queenstown’s development, the gold rush fever, and life in New Zealand during the mid to late 1800s. Lauren writes with elegance and insight, bringing history to life through meticulous research and beautifully crafted prose. It’s one of those books that leaves you richer in knowledge and perspective than when you first picked it up 🩷💜🧡

[Rosemary Baird Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a 3.5. I didn’t find the characterisation or story really gripping but I really enjoyed reading a novel based very closely on historical fact and research that focused on describing the growth of a colonial settlement. I could tell a lot of the events came from newspaper reporting. It was interesting to read a story to that covered a full life; in some ways less compelling than a narrative that develops around a shorter series of events but in other ways it felt far more realistic than other novels because it was the full sweep of a life that was in someways extraordinary but in others very ordinary.

[Susan Bourke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just been in NZ Queenstown I picked this up in airport on way home and thoroughly enjoyed reading it .. What a woman born in 1839 travelled age 3 with family to Melbourne Australia on board ship and ended up in Queenstown some years later. Considering it still takes approx 30 hours door to door today their trip was 4 months at sea, a hard journey.
This is a story of family ambition and Julias was to own a hotel. Like all the entrepreneurs today she never lost sight of her goal and acheived it in building Eichardts Hotel Queenstown which is still a beautiful building today.
This is a story of Grit and Grace and worth reading if you have an interest in NZ or female warriors!

[Margaret Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book based on the l8fe of Julia Eichardt and her family.
Born in Ireland around 1844. family moved to Melbourne, Then the ambitioys hard working Julia liked to Queenstown New Zealand for.lowing her brother Silvester.
Worked in hotel on Lake Wakatipu. after many years married a Germsn Albert Eichardt.Tgether rhetoric built the famous hotel that today is still operating as a hotel
Large catholic family many children except for Ju,ua who had none.
If you are interested in the history of Queenstown and the hotel you will love this book

[Stephen Moase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! ❤️ Not only has the author captured the essence of Julia Eichardts remarkable story,
but she has evoked the era in a way that places you right amongst it.
This book really resonated with me and I loved learning more about the founding of Queenstown and the characters that made it.
Well researched and written, I am recommending it to all my friends.

[Jill Montgomery]

I really enjoyed the way this book brings context to the life of early settlers in New Zealand. The story is based on the life of Julia Eichardt. It's a great story of courage, particuarly the courage of a woman, amidst a 'Man's World'. It's an inspiring read and it engenders empathy for those who have gone before us and the trials they endured.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the historical details of Queenstown in this book. There are many names that link to road and park names of my childhood in the town and the families who were the early settlers. Having just read Kitty K it was good to fill in a few more gaps of knowledge.
A great read for anyone who has a Queenstown link in their past.

[Catherine Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. How lovely to read of the history of some of the pioneering women in New Zealand. Roche has done a wonderful job of transporting us to Queenstown, walking us through the streets and life of New Zealand at this time. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looking forward to her next.

[Charlotte Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book 3 days after its release date in Queenstown airport. Sadly I left it on the plane on my way back to the UK. Lauren kindly sent over a new copy, and I had to re-read it. It's such a heart warming and heart breaking story. Thank you.

[Keryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this historical novel based on a real woman's life. Gives an insight into the living conditions of early European settlers to NZ, and this one to the start of Queenstown in particular.

[Zoe Cruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it - I felt completely immersed in Ireland, Australia and NZ and could not put it down. Beautifully written and already looking forward to the next one!

[Rebecca Packwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having arrived in Queenstown a few weeks ago I enjoyed this piece of historical fiction based there.

[Julie Notman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story, simply told but full of interesting facts about a unique time in history, Queenstown and the personalities of those times.

[Jan Leitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant, highly recommend this book. loose yourself for a day and get carried along on Julia’s heartfelt journey through early NZ (couldn’t put the book down once i picked it up). Lauren’s delicate descriptions will immerse you in the past, an emotional journey of grit, love, loss and determination.

[Mrs Moa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical fiction, based on a true story, set in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The story of Julia Eichardt, a founding member of Eichardts Private Hotel in Queenstown New Zealand.

Lauren has done an incredible job of memorialising Julia’s life in a world where men tend to hold centre stage 👏

I was sent this book by the publisher and all opinions are my own.