He’s had a university, a lake, a bank and much more named after him. But Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth governor of the colony of New South Wales, is an equivocal figure who seems to have been forgotten in recent years. Author MICHAEL SEDUNARY set out to dig up the old chap and take another look at him in his new book, The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie.

My main aim in writing history for children is to give them some insight into the complexity of human motivations and interactions that result in the social outcomes that we all have to live with.

I am also keen for young readers to make thoughtful connections between past and present societal realities. In the Macquarie book, for example, there is mention of the governor’s dismay at the ‘party spirit’ that dominates local politics. His positive programs are hampered by divisiveness and polarised thinking. I wonder if we have made much progress in this respect.

This leads to reflection on the effectiveness of democracy as a system of government. Macquarie has no time for it and enjoys the absolute power of an autocrat. Look at how much he is able to achieve!

The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie also makes a none-too-subtle comparison between Emancipists (freed convicts) and asylum seekers, and New South Wales is referred to as Britain’s offshore detention centre. Do we align our thinking with Macquarie, who welcomes and encourages the outcasts, or do we join the Exclusives (people opposed to giving full civil rights to Emancipists) in turning our backs on them?

How can a governor with such revolutionary, enlightened views on Emancipists embrace policies concerning the Colony’s Indigenous population that resemble those that led to the tragedy of the Stolen Generations? How can he justify authorising murderous attacks on groups of Aboriginal people? In reflecting on all this, young readers are invited to embrace the ambivalence at the heart of our history, both past and present.

Is Macquarie a founding father or a failure? There is enough evidence in the book to suggest that he is both – more ambivalence! – but I would hope that young readers could see themselves joining the cheering crowds on the docks to farewell the governor as he sails for home.

I have spent many years writing educational material for children and I became involved in this series at the request of the publisher who wanted to tell the story of the friendship between Governor Arthur Phillip and Bennelong. Since then I have become engrossed in this period of our history and am happy to go on researching and writing about it. I think The Startling Story of Lachlan Macquarie is the strongest one in the series so far.

I am flattered to have my text sit alongside the beautiful artwork of Bern Emmerichs, which goes beyond mere illustration. There are numerous spreads that include enrichment in the form of extra information, all the fruit of her own initiative and her own research.