013 - Chapter Xii

We of the Never-Never, penned by Jeannie Gunn under the pseudonym Mrs Aeneas Gunn, is a celebrated classic of Australian literature. This semi-autobiographical novel draws from the authors own adventures as she settled on Elsey Station in the remote Katherine region of the Northern Territories during the early 20th century. While the story is presented as fiction, Gunn cleverly alters the names of the real individuals from her past, introducing readers to colorful characters like the Sanguine Scott, the Fizzer, and the Dandy. Following their marriage, Jeannie and her husband Aeneas, affectionately known as the Maluka, ventured to Darwin before managing the Elsey Cattle Station. The prospect of a white woman in the rugged outback stirred controversy, yet Jeannie’s resilience shone through as she embraced the challenges ahead. This tale unfolds as a rural romance, rich with poetic descriptions of the Elseys breathtaking landscapes. Set between 1902 and 1903, We of the Never-Never not only captures the essence of life on the station but also reflects the complex attitudes of the time, including troubling depictions of Aboriginal people and their treatment—particularly in the later chapters, which reveal the harsh realities of that era. (Introduction by Gail Timmerman-Vaughan)