Bushrangers! Captain Thunderbolt

Bushrangers are featured in Australia’s early colonial history. They caused chaos on quiet country roads, often robbing the mail coaches as they travelled between towns. However, not all bushrangers were the same. One was called the “gentleman bushranger”.

The story of the bushranger Captain Thunderbolt is a means to consider the historical development of the British colonies in Australia. The perspective of criminals robbing people along roads to small dusty towns sounds very odd. These were very different times with a lot of Australia sparsely settled for grazing and farming. Many of these rural areas would be lawless beyond the towns and settlements.

A lot of Australia's country areas were still untouched. These areas would also have had many Aboriginal peoples still living in their traditional ways. The story of Thunderbolt offers the opportunity for discussion of the colonial settlement of Australia and the lives of the people in rural Australia.

Join the author on a journey as she explores the life and death of Captain Thunderbolt, including the amazing places of the New England tablelands where Thunderbolt's life and history are celebrated. A beautifully presented and well-researched story that will be an invaluable resource for Australian history and literacy classes.

Literacy is always the focus but there is the opportunity to learn more about early Australia and the importance of the booming wealth of the colonies due to wool-growing and gold mining.