Promised Land - From Dunedin to the Dunstan Goldfields by Grahame Sydney

This is a second-hand copy of the book Promised Land - From Dunedin to the Dunstan Goldfields by Grahame Sydney. 

Condition: This is a used book in very good condition.

Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2009
ISBN: 9780143011835
Format: Landscape Softback
Pages: 160
Condition: Used (Very Good)

Promised Land is an illustrated history of Central Otago's settlement by one of the region's most vocal advocates, artist Grahame Sydney. Before gold was discovered there in 1862, Central Otago was known as the 'Wasteland' and was home to no more than 40 to 50 pastoralists. However as soon as two prospectors announced they had struck gold, this sparse, inhospitable region was suddenly transformed into a secular 'Promised Land', into which legions of hopefuls marched, energized by dreams of earthly reward. Unfortunately, the majority of diggers were poorly equipped for the terrible hardships that lay ahead and their Promised Land became the country of broken dreams - meanwhile in Dunedin and the province of Otago the coffers swelled. Sydney delves into several surviving diaries of gold prospectors to describe the pivotal period in Central Otago's history with vivid immediacy, concluding that this uniquely beautiful landscape lies just as much under threat of exploitation today.