Surviving New England

by Callum Clayton-Dixon

A history of Aboriginal resistance and resilience through the first forty years of the colonial apocalypse.

Genres: Nonfiction, Australia, History

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Martin Empson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short history of the treatment by colonialists of the aboriginal people of New England in Australia. A story of racism and violence, as well as determined and organised resistance. Moving, horrifying but also inspiring.

[Julie Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book highlighting the hidden and ignored history of the early colonial days in the Tablelands region in New South Wales. Challenged a lot of the assumptions I have picked up through my own education. This is an important conversation for us all to have in Australia.

[Fay]

Having lived in the New England, Armidale in particular, and having taught many Aboriginal students at a primary school I found this an interesting read. It explored the first forty years of European settlement in an area that already had a rich and living culture amonst the indigenous inhabitants who were not consulted during the land grab and were often treated apallingly ... but did put up a good fight at having their culture so threatened.

[Kinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable work that delves into colonial archives to uncover a hidden history of First Nations’ resistance in the New England area of NSW.

The author neatly dispels the myth of colonial self-defence against ‘criminal savages’ by making it clear that the violence of Indigenous Australians was armed resistance in the very definition of a just war.

The most moving part of the book concerns settlers rigging explosives in a log used for corroboree because they didn’t like the noise close to ‘their’ property. This is the equivalent of setting off a bomb at Sunday mass because church bells annoy you.

[Janice Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sad story , again one we all need to be reminded of. It’s very well researched and used many references, the authors family was originally from the New England area , however he grew up in New Zealand. So it’s written with an interesting perspective in mind.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an account of Aboriginal resistance in the New England area of NSW. This is an important book to read.

I grew up west of this area, and reading this book has overlayed many accounts of violence over areas I know well. This is crucial reading. The index includes an Aboriginal flag next to all the names of the Aboriginal people. This is very helpful, and highlights how many were only known by a name given by colonists. It has won a NSW Community and Regional History Prize . This book was mentioned in Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance ― The Bathurst War, 1822–1824 as well.

[Ross · Rating 1 out of 5]

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