Most of us would have heard of Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, and of his friendship with Bennelong. Some of us might also remember seeing the picture of Governor William Bligh being unceremoniously pulled out from under his bed by the soldiers during the Rum Rebellion times. But what do we know about Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth governor of New South Wales?

This book, the third in the series, gives us a unique picture of the early days in Sydney town and fills us in with so many fascinating details that are never found in the history books. We find out that Lachlan Macquarie was responsible for the construction of over 250 new buildings, including the handsome Rum Hospital, part of which now houses the NSW Parliament. He also worked with his wife, Elizabeth, to redesign Sydney streets, ban all farm animals from the city centre, and set aside a part of the government Domain for the construction of beautiful Hyde Park.

With extraordinary artwork by Bern Emmerichs, a highly celebrated artist, this is just the book to inspire you and your children to learn more about Australia’s history.

The subtitle seems to ask us to decide if Governor Macquarie was a significant figure in our early history or an incompetent. Maybe he was both. He was an inspirational figure with his many imposing buildings, and he was respected by many people. But he failed miserably when it came to the treatment of the Aboriginal people.

Read this book and decide for yourself.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom

Age Guide 10+