Pickle Bottle Hill
Price: $22.95
Author Bio
As a writer and broadcaster, Alex Nicol has been telling stories all his life… just ask his granddaughter who faithfully buried the prawn heads one Christmas, convinced that properly watered they’d grow into a prawn tree.
He began his working life as a jackeroo, graduated to managing stock on government research stations and to lecturing at Wagga Agricultural College. He joined the ABC as a rural journalist and in a twenty-year career covered federal politics, produced a daily current affairs program, and produced and presented a weekly three-and-a-half-hour national program that told stories about Australia, then and now. As a writer he has a number of award-winning plays to his credit.
Pickle Bottle Hill
1874.
Far north Queensland.
Palmer River goldfield.
The Palmer River goldfield is roaring and Chinese miners flood in, indentured labourers working for a tong, panning gold to honour a family debt.
They won’t see the spoils of their work.
Their gold will go home to China.
Young Fou Yei, a pretty Eurasian girl, is under the service of brothel owner Miss Kate. That is until George Colley steps in and buys her bond for two hundred ounces of gold. Fou Yei belongs to George until she can repay the debt and an uneasy relationship develops between the pair.
1995. Modern Australia.
One hundred and twenty years later, Chinese gold returns to Australia with the fabulously wealthy Ophelia Lau, a successful businesswoman. She vows to have the stories of Chinese humiliation on the goldfield, like that of Fou Yei, erased from the history books.
In modern Australia, Chinese money talks, and Ophelia sets out to find willing Australian allies…
“A wonderful tale of a historical period in Australia. Well-written and told by this amazing new author ... A work of pride to be enjoyed by all lovers of authentic works.” Gail, Readalot reviewer
