George, Elis and a mandarin

Emigration to Australia in the 1870s was a journey into the unknown. What lay ahead and the social and political contexts that confronted immigrants were just part of the uncertainty. George and Elise Fewtrell were two such immigrants. From separate lands, Shropshire and Schleswig-Holstein, they brought to colonial Queensland different cultures and senses of identity. George, a British man who came to do the Empire’s work; Elise from a war-torn home where identity was more fragile and nuanced. Each endured tragedy but ultimately they shared a life together, working to create the community of Palmwoods, raise a family of young Australians and develop a citrus orchard and the Fewtrell’s Early mandarin, that continues to enhance the nutrition of millions in India and Pakistan. A compelling story of Australian lives, told in the context of their times. Archetypes of Australia’s British and multicultural identities. Ordinary lives - extraordinary social history.