The Washerwoman's Dream

by Hilarie Lindsay

A beloved Australian outback classic.

The epic true story of the indomitable Winifred Steger and her extraordinary life in 19th century outback Australia.

Winifred Steger travelled to Australia with her father in the 1880s when he took up a land grant in north Queensland. The grant proved to be worthless, and faced with poverty, endless backbreaking work and isolation, Winifred's father spiralled into depression and alcoholism.

Left to fend for herself, Winifred battled insurmountable odds to maintain her dignity and sanity, finding solace in writing to ease her hardship. Fleeing an abusive marriage also meant the heartbreak of abandoning her four children – but then miraculously she found love with an Indian trader, Ali. Together with their children, they moved to outback Australia where they ran a camel line. A new phase began in Winifred's life, taking her to places she had only ever dreamed of.

The Washerwoman's Dream is the story of a remarkable woman with a tenacious spirit, and is now an enduring Australian classic. Pieced together by Hilarie Lindsay from Winifred’s memoirs, short stories, letters and unpublished novels, this is an account of the amazing life of a forgotten Australian writer.

‘One of the hardest punishments is to be thrown into the world with aspirations and dreams that cannot be fulfilled for want of education ... ’ Winifred Steger

356 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jo]

I can’t believe I got through this. Winifred may have had an extraordinary life but the writing style was so boring that it was a chore to read. And to claim it is ‘the beloved Australian outback classic’ is just ludicrous.

[Lindy Milich]

A boring read

[Vicky Hallam]

Struggled with this book. Not my cup of tea at all.

[Bek Bailey]

Enjoyed it a lot - wish it wasn’t so very rushed at the end

[Philippa Palmer]

I read this book fairly quickly. I found it an easy read and gave one a sense of the struggles of our early settlers.
Winifred had an extraordinary life from her early childhood in London to her father’s settlement block choked with prickly pear to the camel teams, envoy to India, trip to Mecca, and writings around her adventures.
A great yarn about an amazing woman largely self educated when education was a luxury out of reach for the poor.

[Doughlas Ivan]

This is a well-written book, but it carries a heavy, somber tone from beginning to end. While the narrative is compelling, it may not be suitable for readers who are struggling with low moods or depression, as the themes are deeply melancholic. Personally, I was left with a lingering sense of misery and a subdued feeling of helplessness after finishing it.

[Julie Swane]

Based on a true story, this amazing novel traces the true story of Winifred Steger, author and pioneer in outback Australia in the late 1800s. It's a novel of incredible hardship, prejudice and well as resilience and hope. Highly recommended.

[Alexandra Daw]

Fascinating and extraordinary story.