Justice in Kelly Country, an author talk

If you have ancestors who lived in 19th-century Victoria—especially those who lived through the decades of gold rushes, free selection, and bushranging—the upcoming Irish Ancestry Discussion Circle is one you won’t want to miss.

On Saturday 9 May at 1pm on Zoom, guest speaker, Lachlan Strahan, will share the fascinating story behind his book Justice in Kelly Country. This is a well-researched work that cleverly blends family history with Victorian social history. At its heart is Lachlan’s great-great-grandfather, Anthony Strahan, a fiery young Irish immigrant who arrived in Victoria in 1860 and went on to build a long diverse career in the Victorian Police Force.

Through Anthony’s life, Lachlan brings to life the realities of rural policing in the late 19th century—an era that touched many of our own ancestors. From the challenges of maintaining order on the goldfields to the tensions surrounding free selection and the threat of bushrangers, this is a vivid look into the world they inhabited. The infamous Kelly outbreak is at the centre of the story, and this book offers fresh insight into a defining chapter of Victorian history.

Lachlan has always had a compelling interest in history and writing whilst simultaneously forging a distinguished career in Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Whether you have connections to the Victorian Police Force between 1870 and 1900, Irish ancestry, or simply an interest in the lives and times of early Victorians, this presentation promises to both inform and inspire.

This is a free, members-only event. To attend, log in to the GSV website and register via the What’s On? > Events section.