‘The Three Brothers’ – artwork by Marcus Ferguson

· Australia’s Black History ·

‘It’s like we’ve each got a piece of the puzzle but Trotter’s got them all and put them into a book.’

Australia’s Black History

Think you know your Australian history? Think again.

Australia’s Black History is a novel series like no other. Weaving history and myth together it retells the story of the colonisation of Australia through the eyes of the Nyangbal Aboriginal people.

The first book, ‘The Magpie and the Snake’, eases readers into the ancient world of the Aboriginal people prior to colonisation. We meet the heroes, the lovers, Balagaan and Gawngan, and Dangan, their nemesis, who feature in traditional Bundjalung stories. They play out an age-old moral tale at an incredibly significant setting, called Bullinaa (modern-day Ballina) where a massive oyster festival was held.

The second book, ‘Gawngan and the Marriage Tree’ is a tale about women’s business, showing the incredible strength and determination of the Aboriginal women undergoing the rite of marriage annulment in traditional Aboriginal culture.

The last book, ‘Savages’, is a truth telling of a historical massacre, as dreadful as the one at Myall Creek, told through the eyes of the Balagaan and Gawngan, and Balagaan’s nemesis, Dangan, who is forced to be a black tracker for the Native Police, under the command of British officers. The account will make you question who the real savages are.

Australia’s Black History celebrates the oldest continuing culture in the world and one that questions why the loyalties of Australians are still aligned with the British colonisers who took so much from our country. The series doesn’t ask you to agree with it; it just asks you to open your mind to Australia’s past, to acknowledge it and to consider what Aboriginal culture can offer us today.  

‘The Coming of the Yiraallii’ 

The complete Australia’s Black History series in one beautiful hardcover book!

It includes:

• ‘The Magpie and the Snake’
• ‘Gawngan and the Marriage Tree’
• ‘Savages’

Readers 15+

ONLY $50

Prefer a bookshop? We’ve got you covered.

Bookshops

• The Book Room Byron Bay
• The Book Room Lennox Head
• Boardwalk Books Kingscliff
• Ballina Visitor Information Center
• Can’t see your book shop? No problem. Books can be ordered through any bookshop.

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