Will Lawson

Will Lawson (2 September 1876 – 13 October 1957), born in Durham, England, was a popular bush poet, novelist, journalist and historian of Australia. Many of his works had sailing or stage coach themes.

Early life

Born at Gateshead, Durham, England, the family was of Scandinavian descent, with the family name originally of Larsen. Moving with his family to New Zealand at the age of four, they first lived in Wellington, New Zealand.

Fill her tank and give her coal Clear her fires, and then Let the big-wheeled Yankee roll Down the grades again.

For World War I, Lawson was rejected by the New Zealand military for the mounted infantry because of his diabetes. they were lifelong friends, Between the Lights (1906) Stokin' and Other Verses (1908) The tug that went a-trawling (1909) The Three Kings (1914) To the Fallen Bush Verses (1943) Bill the Whaler (1944)

Novels

Red West Road (1906)

When Cobb and Co. was King (1936), possibly his best-known book

Old Man Murray (1937)

Harpoons ahoy! (1938)

In Ben Boyd's Day (1939), considered to be his best to date, in a historical setting of a gentleman adventurer

Red Morgan Rides (1940)

Bound for Callao (1942)

Black Diamonds (1945) The Lady of the Heather (1945) Forbidden Gold (1945) Paddle Wheels Away (1945) Gold in their Hearts (1950), republished as Mary Smith's Hotel (1957)

With fellow author Tom Hickey:

Galloping Wheels (1947)

Moira of Green Hills (1950), set in the paddle-steamer days of trade between the Hunter River and Sydney, about an Irish colleen Moira.

Short stories

A stokehold tragedy (1909)

A pack track knight (1913)

The buggy ride (1935)

Miscellaneous

The Three Kings, and other verses (1914), 250 pages of many verses and poems, including The Old Ngahauranga Road, published by Angus & Robertson, being sold for the cost of 2 shillings 7 pence.

Pacific steamers (1928), about the development of steam shipping on the Australian, and West American coasts. It contained 237 pages with illustrations, and sold for 16 shillings.

Blue Gum Clippers and Whale Ships of Tasmania (1949), in conjunction with the Shiplovers' Society of Tasmania, Georgian House, Melbourne.