COME 1909, BATHURST was the fastest-growing community west of the Great Dividing Range. Further west, in a climate totally unsuited to growing oranges, the township of Orange was becoming noted for its cherries, plums and apricots. Further west again, all the isolated settlement of Bourke had going for it was ‘the black stump’ – beyond which, over 11 million sheep had displaced most of the surviving indigenous clans.
The moment he disembarked from the paddle steamer at the Port O’Bourke, Laurence Astley was beset with questions. Where did he come
