Station Life in New Zealand

audiobook

Station Life in New Zealand

by Lady (Mary Anne) Barker

EN·~5 hours·27 chapters

Chapters

27 total
1

By Lady Barker.

2:20
2

Preface.

1:20
3

Letter I: Two months at sea—Melbourne.

13:23
4

Letter II: Sight-seeing in Melbourne.

7:20
5

Letter III: On to New Zealand.

11:34
6

Letter IV: First introduction to "Station life."

10:44
7

Letter V: A pastoral letter.

7:22
8

Letter VI: Society.—houses and servants.

14:33
9

Letter VII: A young colonist.—the town and its neighbourhood.

6:36
10

Letter VIII: Pleasant days at Ilam.

6:27

Description

A vivid series of personal letters carries the reader from a cramped, sea‑sick voyage across the Southern Ocean to the bustling ports of Melbourne, where the author first glimpses the promise of a new world. Her candid humor and sharp observations turn a long, monotonous crossing into a lively portrait of travel, companionship, and the uneasy anticipation of leaving familiar shores.

Once ashore, the correspondence shifts to the everyday rhythms of a New Zealand sheep station. From the bustle of household staff to the expansive pastures, from festive picnics to sudden snowstorms, the letters capture both the practical challenges and the unexpected joys of colonial life. Through her eyes, listeners discover a blend of frontier adventure, community spirit, and the quiet moments that make a distant land feel like home.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (339K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by P. J. Riddick, and David Widger

Release date

2004-07-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Lady (Mary Anne) Barker

Lady (Mary Anne) Barker

1831–1911

Best known for her vivid account of colonial life in Station Life in New Zealand, this widely traveled Victorian writer turned personal experience into lively, observant books. Her work moves from sheep stations and sea voyages to the many corners of the British Empire she called home.

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