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Early Australia: 1788–1890
Australia · 1788–1890 · exact time + place
From 1788 to the late 19th century, Australia's story unfolds across penal settlements, frontier towns, and Indigenous cultures facing change — convict tales, pioneering spirit, exploration, and early regional identities. The button below opens StoryTerra with both Australia and 1788–1890 already set.
Open Early Australia on the map10 famous Early Australia stories
Live snapshot of the top 10 most popular catalogue items (2026-09-04). Click any card to open this entry on the live map.
Browse 19 books and 8 movies set in Australia.
The Nightingale
In 1825 Clare a 21-year-old Irish convict chases a British soldier through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family. She enlists the services of an…
The Proposition
In 1880s Australia a lawman offers renegade Charlie Burns a difficult choice. In order to save his younger brother from the gallows Charlie must hunt down and kill his older brother who is wanted for rape and murder.…
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Adventures of Jacky Faber, on her Way to Botany Bay
Jacky Faber, rich from her exploits diving for Spanish gold, has purchased the Lorelei Lee to carry passengers across the Atlantic. Believing she has been absolved of past sins against the Crown, Jacky docks in London…
Under Capricorn
In 1831 Irishman Charles Adare travels to Australia to start a new life with the help of his cousin who has just been appointed governor. When he arrives he meets powerful landowner and ex-convict Sam Flusky who wants…
The Legend of Ben Hall
Ben Hall is drawn back into bushranging by the reappearance of his old friend John Gilbert. Reforming the gang they soon become the most wanted men in Australian history.
For the Term of His Natural Life
The most famous work by the Australian novelist and poet, For the Term of His Natural Life is a powerful tale of an Australian penal settlement, which originally appeared in serial form in a Melbourne paper.
Mad Dog Morgan
The true story of Irish outlaw Daniel Morgan who is wanted dead or alive in Australia during the 1850s.
The Mystery of a Hansom Cab
Melbourne 1886. Two gentlemen climb into a hansom cab late one murky night. One man climbs out the other travels on to St Kilda. On arrival the driver finds the second man dead; murdered. The ‘high-society’ killing…
Verbannt ans Ende der Welt
England 1804: Abby Lynn ist gerade vierzehn Jahre alt, als sie an einem kalten Februarmorgen in den Straßen Londons in einen Taschendiebstahl verwickelt wird. Angeblich der Komplizenschaft überführt, verschwindet sie…
Van Diemen's Land
The true story of Australia’s most notorious convict Alexander Pearce and his infamous journey into the beautiful yet brutal Tasmanian wilderness. A point of no return for convicts banished from their homeland Van…
The 10 stories above are just a sample of the 27 in the catalogue for this entry. For the live early-period catalogue, use the button above — or browse all Australia stories. On the live map you can also filter by the exact time the stories take place — any year, decade or century, from BCE to the future.