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Rum: A Distilled History of Colonial Australia
Australia and its formation - through the distorted view of a rum bottle.
Could the Rum Rebellion have been averted if Major Johnston wasn't hungover?
Would the Eureka Stockade have been different if the rebels weren't pissed?
How were prisoners to get drunk if Macquarie closed the only pub in the goal?
And why should sailors under fourteen be deprived of their sixteen shots of rum per day?
These are just some of the questions raised in Matt Murphy's account of Australia's colonial history. Brimming with detailed research and irreverent character sketches, Rum looks at not just how much was drunk in colonial Australia (a lot!), but also the lengths people went to get their hands on it, the futile efforts of the early governors to control it, and the often disastrous and/or absurd consequences of its consumption.
Those consequences aren't just in our past. Murphy goes beyond foundation stories to look at the legacy our love affair with alcohol has created, from binge drinking to lockout laws and from prohibition to urinating on the parliamentary carpet.
So here's to Rum, for making bad decisions look like a good idea at the time.
Could the Rum Rebellion have been averted if Major Johnston wasn't hungover?
Would the Eureka Stockade have been different if the rebels weren't pissed?
How were prisoners to get drunk if Macquarie closed the only pub in the goal?
And why should sailors under fourteen be deprived of their sixteen shots of rum per day?
These are just some of the questions raised in Matt Murphy's account of Australia's colonial history. Brimming with detailed research and irreverent character sketches, Rum looks at not just how much was drunk in colonial Australia (a lot!), but also the lengths people went to get their hands on it, the futile efforts of the early governors to control it, and the often disastrous and/or absurd consequences of its consumption.
Those consequences aren't just in our past. Murphy goes beyond foundation stories to look at the legacy our love affair with alcohol has created, from binge drinking to lockout laws and from prohibition to urinating on the parliamentary carpet.
So here's to Rum, for making bad decisions look like a good idea at the time.
352 pages, Paperback
Published December 7, 2021
18 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Matt Murphy
4 books5 followersAt school, Matt Murphy failed English and couldn't see the point of history. He became a firie and has been serving in Sydney's inner city for 38 years. He is now also a part time historian and teacher, tolerating the attitudes of kids towards history that he used to share.
He has written three books: Weight of Evidence which is about what was the longest civil court case in New South Wales; Rum, about the influence of alcohol in colonial Australia; and Gold, concerning the life of Edward Hargraves and his dubious claim to be Australia's gold discoverer.
Matt also can't believe they made him write his own bio.
He has written three books: Weight of Evidence which is about what was the longest civil court case in New South Wales; Rum, about the influence of alcohol in colonial Australia; and Gold, concerning the life of Edward Hargraves and his dubious claim to be Australia's gold discoverer.
Matt also can't believe they made him write his own bio.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 28, 2022
Best book this guy has ever written. And I should know.
July 17, 2021
Matt Murphy's passion for the humanity behind the history shines through in this rollicking account of colonial Australia; soaked in more rum than a Christmas trifle and twice as flammable. His exhaustive research which gets under the skin of his characters through their peccadillos debunks myths (the cult of sheep-lover Macarthur) and suggests new ones (Governor Arthur Phillip was rampantly gay) all whilst bringing fresh enthusiasm to understand the extraordinary first years of establishing a colony against most people's wishes. Murphy's playful ability to bring a scene alive, like the extraordinary rain-lashed orgy which happened after all the First Fleet boats landed, and his mischievous humour; calling rum the colony's 'holy water' of choice, all make a history book read like a Bill Bryson-esque romp.
For Sydney lovers, alcohol aficionados and history buffs, Murphy's rum scented voice is intoxicating and will have you wandering our town as if it's a storybook in whose streets; Foveaux, Macquarie, King and Hunter, are written the intrigues behind the carving up of this Gadigal land for a few bottles of rum.
For Sydney lovers, alcohol aficionados and history buffs, Murphy's rum scented voice is intoxicating and will have you wandering our town as if it's a storybook in whose streets; Foveaux, Macquarie, King and Hunter, are written the intrigues behind the carving up of this Gadigal land for a few bottles of rum.
September 29, 2024
I found this a very interesting read but it’s really just for history lovers. Matt has a quirky, irreverent style of writing but he assures the reader that it’s all true. As a former history teacher I always enjoy reading about history, especially if the writer has a particular slant.
December 15, 2021
A very entertaining history of rum in colonial Australia. Very informative and easy to read. I have read many Australian histories and they always mention rum but I had no idea how central it was to the culture of the time.
November 15, 2022
Delivered in wonderful laconic Australian prose thought out that makes this work one that will bring a smile as the author presents the history of Rum from the “First Fleet” to our modern day, here in the country this reader calls home.
However, as you chuckle along, the work its self presents the consequences of alcohol consumption across the journey from 1788 to now in 2022, and it is a story mixed with sadness, madness and indeed, one of the main social foundations upon which modern Australia was built upon and influences us all to this day.
Why was Rum, and indeed, alcohol such a being such influence ? What were, and are, the consequences of it playing such a role ? What attempts were, and are in some cases still being made to curb it’s influence to varying degrees of success and failure ?
It’s a great and entertaining read as you are taken through some of the more light hearted and some of the less academic aspects, of the impact firstly of Rum and then other alcoholic options on the formation of Australian history and society from 1788. You may smile, you may learn and you may wonder, but hopefully, you wont be wondering why you picked it up in the first place.
Enjoy. Cheers !
However, as you chuckle along, the work its self presents the consequences of alcohol consumption across the journey from 1788 to now in 2022, and it is a story mixed with sadness, madness and indeed, one of the main social foundations upon which modern Australia was built upon and influences us all to this day.
Why was Rum, and indeed, alcohol such a being such influence ? What were, and are, the consequences of it playing such a role ? What attempts were, and are in some cases still being made to curb it’s influence to varying degrees of success and failure ?
It’s a great and entertaining read as you are taken through some of the more light hearted and some of the less academic aspects, of the impact firstly of Rum and then other alcoholic options on the formation of Australian history and society from 1788. You may smile, you may learn and you may wonder, but hopefully, you wont be wondering why you picked it up in the first place.
Enjoy. Cheers !
January 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this. It's an easy read and far more entertaining than most history books. I picked it up to quickly check one chapter out in case it was useful research for something I'm writing and ended up reading the whole thing for fun. Definitely worth it even if you're not a big nerd like me.
June 4, 2023
Who knew history could be so damn repetitive... and full of drunks.
P.S. The NSW Rum Corps got nothing on the 501st.
P.S. The NSW Rum Corps got nothing on the 501st.
September 1, 2021
The worst thing about this book is the name, in fact on that basis I wonder why I even bothered to start reading it. But don't be like me and resolutely trudge forward as the book is a gem. In fact, based on the narrative at times I wonder how we managed to make it as a nation, as at various times in our history we must have been collectively as pissed as a fart. The historical link that the author has adopted is alcoholic beverages and of course in Australia, we are obvious target as which other country has used rum as a currency as we did. But as a link it makes for an excellent and entertaining cohesive history book of Australian that heartily commend.
August 16, 2021
Brilliant read. ... especially like the contents of the fridge being used to support a point ..
June 7, 2022
The stories here could drive you to despair. The malevolence, incompetence, and corruption of those in power obviously resulted in the avoidable misery of thousands, with cultural and social issues which persist in modern Oz. However, the irreverent humour with which the author treats his task makes this an easy but informing read. It is also worth crediting the critical eye with which the subjects are treated, avoiding the fawning tropes that Australian histories are typically replete with. My only criticism would be that breaking the story into chapters by topic broke the narrative flow a little.
December 13, 2021
A very good read - a “boutique” history of Australia, if you will. Quite selective, perhaps - a very heavy focus on NSW with only the sporadic mention of other colonies and states, though the bulk of the book deals with a time when NSW pretty much WAS Australia.
Well-written, well-researched and very entertaining.
Well-written, well-researched and very entertaining.
July 6, 2021
The novel Rum, by Matt Murphy, managed to be both informative and entertaining. I will never think about the early days of Australia in quite the same way! Fast paced and diverting - this is a book you will want to discuss with friends.
March 17, 2023
I didn't get the book but the author was a pretty good history sub teacher and he mentioned he wrote this book so I thought I'd leave a review
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews