PRESS RELEASE: OUTBACK ODYSSEY by Paul Rushworth-Brown Explores the Grit and Hope of Post-War Migration to Australia
Melbourne, VIC — [2 May 2025] — Bestselling historical fiction author Paul Rushworth-Brown returns with his most emotionally resonant and culturally rich novel to date: Outback Odyssey, a sweeping tale of hardship, friendship, and resilience set against the backdrop of 1950s post-war Australia.
In Outback Odyssey, acclaimed historical fiction author Paul Rushworth-Brown brings post-war Australia to life through the eyes of Jimmy, a young Yorkshireman seeking adventure and escape. After a gruelling immigration process shaped by the harsh realities of the White Australia Policy, Jimmy and his friend Suraj are plunged into the rigid confines of a Melbourne quarantine station. Their journey continues through gritty migrant hostels, long dusty roads, and finally into the wild heart of the Australian bush. With themes of friendship, cultural identity, and survival, Outback Odyssey is both a poignant tale of resilience and an evocative love letter to the Australian landscape and its Indigenous heritage.
Inspired by the real stories of thousands who migrated in search of a better life, Outback Odyssey follows Jimmy, a young Yorkshireman, and his friend Suraj, as they leave behind their pasts and step into the unknown—only to find that the ‘Lucky Country’ had plans of its own.
Jimmy and Suraj are met with suspicion from the moment they disembark at Station Pier in Melbourne. They’re ushered through immigration, where a dictation test, cold stares, and clipped orders introduce them to a nation grappling with its identity under the shadow of the White Australia Policy.
Held for fourteen days at the stark Point Nepean Quarantine Station, the duo endures humiliating medical examinations, monotonous meals, and guarded fences that echo the orphanages of Jimmy’s past. “Just a quick poke and a prod, then we’re off, eh Suraj?” Jimmy jokes—but the reality is anything but light-hearted. For Suraj, the barriers feel heavier, tainted by the colour of his skin and the politics of exclusion.
Once released, their journey continues to the Eastbridge Immigration Hostel in Nunawading, where conditions are functional but bleak—rows of corrugated Nissen huts, disinfected dormitories, and rows of narrow beds separated only by curtains. Yet amid the hardship, Jimmy meets Tom, a fellow migrant from Liverpool, whose hopeful words plant a seed:
“Don’t worry, mate. This might seem rough now, but it’s just the beginning. The real adventure is out there in the bush. The landscape is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”
Through vivid, cinematic prose and deeply human storytelling, Outback Odyssey brings to life the emotional weight of displacement and the fierce determination to belong. With themes of cultural conflict, found family, and the fight for dignity, this novel is both a moving tribute to the migrant experience and a poignant reminder of Australia’s complex history.
Paul Rushworth-Brown is a bestselling author known for richly detailed historical novels that capture the grit and beauty of the past. A master of immersive storytelling, Paul’s work has earned praise for its lyrical prose, historical accuracy, and emotional depth. With Outback Odyssey, he brings his keen eye and research-driven voice to the stories of immigrants and Indigenous Australians in a uniquely Australian epic.
Outback Odyssey is available 30 May 2025 in bookstores nationwide and online.
For interviews, media appearances, review copies, or speaking engagements, please contact:
Media Contact:
Dee Marley [email protected]
HISTORIUM PRESS (US)
or Hayley Brown (AUS) [email protected]
+61 0431724652
www.paulrushworthbrownskulduggerywinterofred.com
