The Mallee Boy

This autobiography tells of a pioneer family settling and farming south eastern Australia with lots of interesting, heartwarming and funny stories. Edward Dickinson’s grandfather, Francis, came from an old English farming family. In 1873, with the colonies offering new opportunities, he sailed to Australia on the Agamannon landing in St.Kilda, Victoria where he purchased 40 acres of prime land and developed a lucrative pig and dairy farm which helped feed the fast growing city of Melbourne. Edward’s father was born there, but eventually left with his own growing family enticed by government promises of good cheap farmland opening up in north west Victoria. The intrepid couple travelled 340 miles in a covered wagon with 5 young girls to find it hot, dry and sandy.
In 1917 they had Ed, who grew up fast and strong in the area known as the Mallee. He loved country life but while still in his teens was city bound where he learned a trade, learned to box, found a wife, joined a war and always tried to demonstrate the qualities learned in his youth but nearly always missed the country. His observations and descriptive expression make for an entertaining and informative read set in a time and place seldom seen from this perspective.