Macquarie

Lachlan Macquarie played a pivotal role in transforming Australia from a penal colony into a thriving society, shaping its early national character and providing opportunities for former convicts. However, his ambitions also brought him into conflict with the continent's Indigenous peoples, leading to violent confrontations and dispossession. This comprehensive biography explores the complex legacy of a man who helped lay the foundations of Australia while also being associated with its darker history.