Brokowski

Page #73

Added 2025-01-16 20:43:31 +0000 UTC

I recently finished "The Australian Legend" a book on the historical development of Australian national identity. Really engaging read by Russel Ward, which is even more impressive as it was published in 1958, giving him direct access to the preceding generation which witnessed federation. Australia really led the charge on workers rights globally, and Ward hypothesizes one of the reasons for this was the initial absence of a middle class in Australia. Convicts (or 'government men, as they preferred to be called) were the vast majority of the early population, as such the ruling class was essentially forced to adapt. Without a middle class to buffer calls for progress, rights were able to be demanded and obtained as history took it's course. I find myself thinking about this in a modern context a lot lately, particularly through my life as a very common political refrain is "protecting the middle class".

Anywho, hospitality as on this page wasn't unheard of, early Australians were fairly anarchistic once free of their initial chains and more than happy to aide and abet absconders. Moving forward the Stockman becomes the icon of the Australian imagination and these nomadic workers culture pretty much made it so stations, if you stopped at them, were expected to provide you with free meals and lodging without complaint. Those who broke this unwritten law of the country did so at their own peril, because a pissed off stockman would happily burn your shit down if you refused them.

Anyways, if you have an interest, as I do, in Australian history, The Australian Legend is a fantastic read.