The Postmistress

Set in Victoria in 1871, Adelaide Greaves and her son, Danny, live in a small goldmining settlement, north east of Melbourne, where Adelaide is the postmistress.  The people of Maiden's Creek know Adelaide as a widow but, in reality, Adelaide left England with Netty ten years previously to bring up her son away from her wealthy father who would not approve of his daughter being an unmarried mother.

In Maiden's Creek Adelaide has established a new life in a community very different from life she was expected to live in England. Then, an American, Caleb Hunt arrives in town. Caleb also has a mysterious past, which is gradually revealed, as he befriends Adelaide and gradually becomes part of the community. Then a person from Adelaide's past arrives in town and Adelaide's life turns into chaos.

This novel by Alison Stuart  recreates the atmosphere of life in a small mining community almost 150 years ago, introducing the reader to a range of characters all trying to survive the challenges, and sometimes danger, of living in a settlement cut off from other parts of the colony.