Merimbula-Imlay Historical Society celebrated Australia Day with a launch of Angela George’s book, Mud, Floods and the Birth Place of a Town. A crowd of about sixty people gathered in Christ Church hall, Pambula, to congratulate Angela on her publication which depicts the development of Pambula, focusing in particular on Oaklands homestead.

Angela first became interested in the topic of Oaklands ten years ago when asked to research its history by the then owners, Lyn and the late Ian Dunsmore. Picking up bits of history from various sources, Angela found she had enough information for a book and on receiving funding from the Royal Australian Historical Society eighteen months ago she began writing in earnest.

Since Bass and Flinders landed in Twofold Bay in 1798 the advantages of this part of the country were noted. The potential for whaling and agriculture was soon acted upon and Angela records the effect on the Aboriginal population at the time. The Imlay brothers established squatting runs across a vast area one of which was Pamboola station, which by 1867 and some owners later, was known as ‘Oaklands’.

During her research Angela interviewed several more recent owners and employees of Oaklands some of whom, including Lyn Dunsmore, Joyce Bennett and Gordon Radford were present at the launch.

Local identity, John Liston, spoke with enthusiasm about the book and encouraged  local schools to purchase copies. He stressed the importance of depicting history through story-telling, “The Aborigines tell their history with stories and Angela has told our story”, he said.

Mud, Floods and the Birth Place of a Town costs $15 and is available at the Old School Museum, Oaklands bookshops and newsagencies.