Mary Arrigan

“Imagine digging a hole in the ground and finding enough wealth to live in comfort for ever!”

Esty’s childhood world is shattered when her father is killed defending starving Irish peasants. Suddenly forced to leave home and work as a maid, it is only the dream of gold and a better life in Australia that keeps her going.

With stubborn determination, she gets her family to the goldfields of Ballarat. There, harsh conditions, deceit and rebellion threaten to thwart them... but nothing is going to destroy Esty’s dream.

This gripping adventure story by an award-winning Irish writer tells a timeless tale of hope and courage.

Historical note

The Great Irish Famine of 1845-51 was caused by the repeated failure of the potato crop, Ireland’s staple food. It devastated the Irish population. One million people starved to death, while a further million emigrated to America and Australia. Many died of disease on the overcrowded ‘coffin’ ships.

The Whiteboys were a secret society of young men who, in their uniform of white shirts, rebelled against the landlords who were forcing the rural poor from their holdings by imposing exorbitant rents.

In the 1850s, the Colony of Victoria was under British rule. When gold was discovered in Ballarat, the Governor imposed on the diggers an exorbitant monthly tax – the equivalent of a month’s earnings – which they had to pay whether they found gold or not. In 1854, the tax collection was increased to twice a week. This, along with the fact that the diggers had no vote and, therefore, no say in the running of the diggings, led to the Eureka Stockade uprising.