Henry Lawson and his journey through NSW in 1892

On 6 May the Museum & Gallery hosted Paul Brunton, Senior Curator at the Mitchell Library, for a fascinating talk on Australian poet and writer Henry Lawson. Paul talked about Lawson’s harrowing journey through drought-affected NSW in 1892, which was a seminal event in his life. Lawson experienced first hand the difficulty of bush life, and the experience informed his writing for years.

Though Lawson had a sad and troubled life that was plagued by alcoholism and mental illness, he was the first writer to be given a state funeral. His work lives on through such classics as The Drover’s Wife. Thanks to Paul Brunton for bringing the story of Henry Lawson to Hurstville! You can read some of Lawson’s work at Hurstville Library.