A Settler's 35 Years' Experience in Victoria, Australia And how £6 8s. became £8,000

A vivid memoir that follows an English‑trained artist who abandons a promising career for the promise of a new life halfway across the world. After a bout of illness forces him to seek a milder climate, he and his large family settle briefly on a Devonshire farm, gaining hands‑on experience that later proves indispensable. When the lure of the Australian gold rush beckons, they embark on a daring voyage, leaving behind London’s crowded streets for the untamed frontiers of Victoria.

The narrative chronicles the first years of hardship and hope: the frantic rush to the diggings, the relentless toil on early claim‑fields, and the eventual shift from prospecting to cultivating the land. Alongside personal anecdotes, the author offers practical counsel for would‑be settlers, illustrating how a modest £6 8s. can, with perseverance and shrewd choices, grow into a modest fortune. Warm, candid, and full of useful observations, the book serves both as an adventurous chronicle and a timeless guide for anyone dreaming of a fresh start.