As a barley literate youth of thirteen, Sidney Kidman ran away from home and worked as an odd-job boy in a grog shanty in outback Australia. He went on to become the greatest pastoral landholder in modern history, acquiring a legendary reputation both at home and abroad as the Cattle King.
As biographer Jill Bowen shows, Kidman was much more than a grazier. In addition to his many successful business ventures and his contributions to the war effort, he was driven by a grand plan for the remote, arid areas of Australia. This kept him locked in a battle with the land--and against drought.
Wealth, power, fame and honour did not change Sidney Kidman. He remained to homespun, gregarious bushman for whom men worked with an almost savage loyalty. Greatly admired, he also had many enemies and in his later years was dogged buy controversies and untruths. This book explores the fascinating Kidman facts and fictions, and gives a balanced, thoroughly entertaining account of this larger-than-life Australian and his exceptional achievements.
Contents:
Acknowledgements Introduction The Kidman Family Tree Map of the Kidman Stations Prologue: A Wild Birthday Party Chapter 1: From White house to Log Cabin
Chapter 2: Off to a Runaway Start
Chapter 3: Benefits of Getting the Sack
Chapter 4: Isabel
Chapter 5: The Greatest Deal
Chapter 6: The Long Paddock Years
Chapter 7: The 'Chain-of-Supply' Strategy
Chapter 8: Depression and Acquisition
Chapter 9: A Backhander from Drought
Chapter 10: A Non-stop Buying Spree
Chapter 11: 'Knock 'em Down'
Chapter 12: Friend of the Omnibus Man
Chapter 13: A Close Shave
Chapter 14: An Injection of New Blood
Chapter 15: The Great War
Chapter 16: Battles at Home
Chapter 17: New Ventures
Chapter 18: Trouble in the Bush
Chapter 19: Walter's Difficult Apprenticeship
Chapter 20: A Retirement of Sorts
Chapter 21: Touring the Outback
Chapter 22: More Tough Times
Chapter 23: The Final Muster
Chapter 24: The Controversies
Chapter 25: The Kidman Achievement
Bibliography
Index
Review:An addictive read, embracing the romance of the bush and the hardship of the outback. - Sunday Times
