Rachel Biddulph Henning (1826–1914) was born in England. In 1854, she went to Australia but returned to England in 1856 due to homesickness and the hot climate. However, in 1861, she returned to Australia, this time travelling on the

SS Great Britain SS ''Great Britain'' is a museum ship and former passenger steamship that was advanced for her time. She was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854. She was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806–1859), for the Great W ...

. During this voyage she kept a diary. Highlights included the discovery of a stowaway who became the surgeon's assistant and a visit to the engine room in her long Victorian dress. Following this trip, she settled in Australia permanently. She first lived with her brother and sister on their property in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

, but married in 1866 and later moved to a property at Figtree on the

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

south coast near Wollongong (see Joseph Davis "Rachel Henning and Deighton Taylor in Illawarra 1853-1896" at the link below). Henning's descriptive letters, mainly addressed to her sister in England, provide a detailed account of nearly 30 years of pioneering life in Australia. The letters were first published by '' The Bulletin'' in 1951 and 1952; in 1963, they were collected in book form and published by

Angus and Robertson Angus & Robertson (A&R) is a major Australian bookseller, publisher and printer. As book publishers, A&R has contributed substantially to the promotion and development of Australian literature.Alison, Jennifer (2001). "Publishers and editors: A ...

, with a foreword and illustrations by

Norman Lindsay Norman Alfred William Lindsay (22 February 1879 – 21 November 1969) was an Australian artist, etcher, sculptor, writer, art critic, novelist, cartoonist and amateur boxer. One of the most prolific and popular Australian artists of his genera ...

. Literary critic

Debra Adelaide Debra Adelaide (born 1958) is an Australian novelist, writer and academic. She teaches creative writing at the University of Technology Sydney. Biography Adelaide was born in Sydney and grew up in the Sutherland Shire. A contemporary of writers ...

writes that "they are valued for their vivid portrayal of station life in the second half of the nineteenth century and for her own humour and frankness about the life she led". Henning's ''Letters'' is one of the best examples in English of the way in which letters can overlap with fiction.Spender, Dale, (1988) ''Writing a New World: Two Centuries of Australian Women Writers'', Pandora, London, p.27

References

Further reading