MS 3628a comprises the bound volume (145 p.) containing Harry G. Horsford Sandeman's autobiography in which are described his adventures and experiences during several years in the Australian colonies. The text does not include dates but appears to cover the 1870s, beginning with an account of Sandeman's voyage from England on board the "Somersetshire" in 1871. There follows a description of his journey to "Burenda", a station near Augathella in south-western Queensland. Sandeman describes the people, places, daily activities, work and social life on sheep and cattle stations he encountered in country areas of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. These places include Ipswich, Charleville, Roma, Augathella, Blackall, Carnarvon Ranges, Bourke, Deniliquin, Mudgee, Gulgong and the Blue Mountains. Sandeman also describes his activities and visits to the theatre, opera and dances in Sydney and Melbourne. The text is illustrated with over 550 fine ink drawings by the author (1 phase box).
Background
Henry Gordon Horsford (Harry) Sandeman was born in New South Wales in 1856, second eldest of the nine children of Alfred (1819-1883) and Amelia (ca. 1837-1898) (née Glassen or Glasson) Sandeman. Alfred and Amelia were married in New South Wales and the family travelled frequently between Australia and England. In 1871, Harry, his mother and eight siblings returned to Australia on board the "Somersetshire", arriving in Melbourne in June of that year. Harry, and presumably the rest of the family, travelled to Sydney by coastal steamer. Sometime later Harry and his relative Gordon Sandeman (ca. 1810-1897), pastoralist, magistrate and member of the Queensland parliament, set off by steamer to Brisbane and then to Ipswich. They continued by train to Dalby and then by horse to Gordon's station "Burenda", in south-western Queensland.