A Little Bush Maid

Set on the sprawling Billabong Station in northern Victoria, the story opens with a vivid portrait of a remote, sun‑kissed homestead. Norah lives amid sweeping plains, towering gums, and a lagoon fringed with reeds, while the house itself is a patchwork of old wattle walls and newer brick wings, draped in blooming bougainvillea and tecoma that her mother lovingly tends. The garden, a wild carpet of buffalo grass speckled with unexpected flower beds, is guarded by the meticulous overseer Hogg, whose strict eye contrasts sharply with the carefree spirit of the land.

Norah’s world is animated by her big brother Jim and the lively rivalry between Hogg and the cheerful Chinese gardener Lee Wing. Their playful antics—like Jim’s mischievous prank on Lee Wing’s pigtail—set a light‑hearted tone that hints at the many adventures to come, from impromptu races across the property to the mysteries that linger beyond the homestead’s borders. This early glimpse promises a tale of youthful energy, friendship, and the rugged charm of bush life.