AustLit

19th-Century Australian Travel Writing

The anonymously written Handbook for Australia & New Zealand begins by stating that this narrative aims to fill a need for "independent" works on the colonies, a handbook that remains objective because is not told by "interested parties." The text chronicles the history, geography, climate, geology, natural history, botany, government, population, education, religion, agriculture, manufacturing, immigration, rates of wages, and prices of provisions for each colony, as well as associated advice for intending emigrants.