Comet River

Comet River is a reference to the largest massacre of whites in Australian history. It happened in an area called Springsure, near the Comet River in 1861. The exact location was called Cullin-la-Ringo. The event is sometimes referred to as the "Cullin-la-Ringo" massacre. Nineteen people were killed by Kairi warriors in a brutal, sudden attack. It must be noted that whites were routinely killing Aborigines at the time and this was rumored to have been a reprisal.

(Walkabout, 2005)

Myall

Slang for native Australian black, or Aborigine, as they came to be called.

Botany

The study of plants in biology.

The Bush

Australian slang for a very remote area.

Bowen

The nearest town to the settlement in the novel (12 miles). Located on the northeastern coast of Queensland.

Brisbane

Capital city of Queensland. Approximately 600 miles from Bowen.

Queensland

Australian state (roughly the size of France and Germany combined) located...