On Our Selection: Steele Rudd

No mistake, it was a real wilderness - nothing but trees, goannas, dead timber...and the nearest house, Dwyer's, was three miles away. Dave's only pair of pants were pretty well wore off him; Joe hadn't a decent coat for Sunday; Dad himself wore a pair of boots with the soles wired on; and Mother fell sick...' Steele Rudd immortalised Dad, Dave, Mum, Joe and Sandy - and the Snake Gully stud - now classic Australian literature as the family comes to grief, hilarity and practicalities as they farm their selection. This is the fully restored version as written by Rudd and as published by The Bulletin in 1899, with original illustrations.