The Pioneers

Katharine S. Prichard (1883 - 1969)

The Pioneers is set against the background of pioneering life in the Gippsland region of Victoria in pre-Federation Australia. Mary and Donald Cameron are free-settlers who make a home in the wilderness and grow a prosperous cattle operation that establishes their position as prominent members of the new settlement.

At first, the novel privileges Mary’s perspective as she encounters escaped convicts, bush fires, and raising a son in a remote community. Later, it follows her son, Davey, as he struggles for independence against his father’s harsh authority. Davey encounters further obstacles in the figure of local hotel owner, Thad McNab, who is determined that Davey’s childhood sweetheart, Deirdre, should be his own bride. (Summary by kirstyl)

Genre(s): Historical Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Chapter I Kirsty Leishman
00:12:10
Play 02 02 - Chapter II Kirsty Leishman
00:08:33
Play 03 03 - Chapter III Kirsty Leishman
00:10:26
Play 04 04 - Chapter IV Kirsty Leishman
00:20:08
Play 05 05 - Chapter V Kirsty Leishman
00:08:13
Play 06 06 - Chapter VI Kirsty Leishman
00:05:39
Play 07 07 - Chapter VII Kirsty Leishman
00:17:08
Play 08 08 - Chapter VIII Kirsty Leishman
00:10:10
Play 09 09 - Chapter IX Kirsty Leishman
00:07:36
Play 10 10 - Chapter X Kirsty Leishman
00:06:54
Play 11 11 - Chapter XI Kirsty Leishman
00:13:19
Play 12 12 - Chapter XII Kirsty Leishman
00:07:08
Play 13 13 - Chapter XIII Kirsty Leishman
00:07:58
Play 14 14 - Chapter XIV Kirsty Leishman
00:06:08
Play 15 15 - Chapter XV Kirsty Leishman
00:05:43
Play 16 16 - Chapter XVI Kirsty Leishman
00:05:23
Play 17 17 - Chapter XVII Kirsty Leishman
00:11:16
Play 18 18 - Chapter XVIII Kirsty Leishman
00:18:11
Play 19 19 - Chapter XIX Kirsty Leishman
00:15:15
Play 20 20 - Chapter XX Kirsty Leishman
00:06:26
Play 21 21 - Chapter XXI Kirsty Leishman
00:09:56
Play 22 22 - Chapter XXII Kirsty Leishman
00:07:48
Play 23 23 - Chapter XXIII Kirsty Leishman
00:09:43
Play 24 24 - Chapter XXIV Kirsty Leishman
00:07:36
Play 25 25 - Chapter XXV Kirsty Leishman
00:04:51
Play 26 26 - Chapter XXVI Kirsty Leishman
00:15:31
Play 27 27 - Chapter XXVII Kirsty Leishman
00:07:03
Play 28 28 - Chapter XXVIII Kirsty Leishman
00:09:16
Play 29 29 - Chapter XXIX Kirsty Leishman
00:06:58
Play 30 30 - Chapter XXX Kirsty Leishman
00:19:35
Play 31 31 - Chapter XXXI Kirsty Leishman
00:11:17
Play 32 32 - Chapter XXXII Kirsty Leishman
00:03:48
Play 33 33 - Chapter XXXIII Kirsty Leishman
00:07:02
Play 34 34 - Chapter XXXIV Kirsty Leishman
00:07:23
Play 35 35 - Chapter XXXV Kirsty Leishman
00:13:49
Play 36 36 - Chapter XXXVI Kirsty Leishman
00:12:26
Play 37 37 - Chapter XXXVII Kirsty Leishman
00:08:54
Play 38 38 - Chapter XXXVIII Kirsty Leishman
00:12:35
Play 39 39 - Chapter XXXIX Kirsty Leishman
00:11:11
Play 40 40 - Chapter XL Kirsty Leishman
00:13:32
Play 41 41 - Chapter XLI Kirsty Leishman
00:15:06
Play 42 42 - Chapter XLII Kirsty Leishman
00:10:16
Play 43 43 - Chapter XLIII Kirsty Leishman
00:10:38
Play 44 44 - Chapter XLIV Kirsty Leishman
00:19:16
Play 45 45 - Chapter XLV Kirsty Leishman
00:04:00
Play 46 46 - Chapter XLVI Kirsty Leishman
00:09:32
Play 47 47 - Chapter XLVII Kirsty Leishman
00:18:53
Play 48 48 - Chapter XLVIII Kirsty Leishman
00:06:07