Inspired by the idea of what it means to be free, best-selling local author Nicole Alexander explores the cost of freedom through her latest novel - a gripping family saga spanning two centuries and two very different environments.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Cedar Tree, released on March 3, is Moree-based Alexander's 10th novel and, like her previous offerings, is a rich exploration of Australia's colourful pastoral history which exudes her love for the Australian landscape.
Set amongst two completely contrasting landscapes - the lush forests of the Richmond Valley and the barren Strezlecki Desert - The Cedar Tree jumps between the 1860s and 1940s.
READ ALSO:
In the 1860s, Irish cousins Brandon, Sean and Maggie O'Riain have settled in Australia after fleeing Ireland as wanted criminals. Brandon, who embraces the opportunities of this new country, and Sean, who refuses to let go of the past, are working as cedar-cutters when Brandon makes a choice that will divide the cousins and have repercussions for generations.
Nearly a century later, Stella O'Riain flees her remote sheep station on the edge of the Strezlecki Desert to her late husband's family cane farm in the Richmond Valley, where she slowly unearths the secrets surrounding the O'Riain family.
The Cedar Tree explores whether people can ever truly begin again or whether their actions can mark them forever.
"I started to think initially about exploring the idea of what it means to be free. Free as an individual, as a community, a society and, ultimately, as a country," Alexander explained.
"It's about people trying to find their place in the world and how far an individual is willing to go to obtain their liberty. There has to be a cost associated with gaining that freedom."
The Cedar Tree is set against a backdrop of immigration to Australia, the age of the cedar-cutters, religious and cultural bigotry, and the opening up of land in far west NSW.
In each of her novels, Alexander draws on different elements of Australia's pastoral history, and thoroughly researches all topics she writes about.
"I have to put a lot of research into the environment that the characters are living in," she said.
"The environment might be background to the story but it's also the tapestry of the story. It's a vital element to me."
In the case of The Cedar Tree, Alexander chose to delve into the history of the Big Scrub which was eastern Australia's largest lowland sub-tropical rainforest, covering an area of 75,000 hectares between Byron Bay and Lismore. However by 1900, only one per cent of the forest remained.
During the 1800s, around the same time as the gold rush, timber cutters flocked to the area which was rich in red cedar.
"Cedar-cutting was a major industry at the time," Alexander explained.
"Cedar itself was in huge demand; it was considered 'red gold' ... going out and cedar cutting was considered more accessible than trying their luck on the gold fields. All they needed was an axe, a cross cut saw and a waterway to float the timber down. Because of the red colour of the timber, cedar was prized by the Australian Navy, furniture makers and ship builders.
"Cedar-cutters were considered to be pioneers in many areas. They would follow the newspaper reports and if there was mention of a waterway and the environment sounded similar to previous cedar areas, they would rush to that area. They were there before many settlers and farmers."
Many of these cedar-cutters were Irish immigrants, who flocked to Australia in the 1800s following the Great Famine.
"Some of them brought over very positive attitudes about the future, while a lot of others brought through fairly negative sentiments; they can't let go of the past," Alexander said.
"There was a lot of grievances between the Catholic Irish and the Protestant English."
Inspiration from Alexander's own family history is also woven into the story, through the backdrop of land disputes which were also happening during the 1860s.
"A couple of years ago, one of my aunts sent me an obituary for my paternal great grandfather. He was one of the first settlers to take up land in southern NSW under the Robertson Land Act.
"I'd already started crafting The Cedar Tree at the time and I thought that is the same period as the land disputes as well."
The Cedar Tree is the 10th novel released by the local author, who is now based in Moree and still runs her family's property at Boomi, however Alexander said it doesn't get any easier.
"You always feel very pressured," she admitted.
"It's like any creative field, I question 'is the work working?' I'm always concerned about the construction.
"[But] to get to the 10th (novel), it did make me sit back and think, 'that's a lot of words'."
Her previous book, Stone Country, was released last year.
Over the next month, Alexander will be travelling throughout the country to promote The Cedar Tree before it is launched locally at Bank Art Museum Moree on Thursday, April 2.
She will then be having a break from writing, with her next book not due out until 2022.
