The Windmill in the Silver Gums

 The Windmill in the Silver Gums

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       July 27, 2026

 

Author  Leonie Kelsall

Distributor:      Allen and Unwin
ISBN:                 9781761472428
Publisher:         Allen and Unwin
Release Date:   30 June 2026  

   Website:   https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Leonie-Kelsall-Windmill-in-the-Silver-Gums

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Leonie Kelsall has researched her work thoroughly and it shows. From the language, the characters, the setting and the cultural aspect of the community we are immersed instantly.

There are two aspects of this novel, The Windmill In The Silver Gums. The first in present day and the second, a hundred years earlier. Because of an accident, Indi finds herself running the family farm. Her mother is artistic and is at home painting and potting. But the bills are mounting.

Indi needs to see rain because the paddocks are dry and the sheep need hand feeding. The forecast is not hopeful, so she works hard to maintain both the farm, equipment and the livestock. Because the farm has been in the family for generations it is essential that the young woman maintains the integrity of the place. She has her heart firmly entrenched on this piece of land.

We move backward one hundred years and discover Rose. She is a young woman from a German family who settled in this area. Rose has fallen in love with Kurt, a young German farmer who wants to marry her. He also wishes to enlist for war service. Other Germans have been interred in camps to protect the community. Locals show animosity towards the German settlers, even though their loyalty to their new county is shown.

When journals are found by Indi, she discovers that Rose is her Great Grandmother and lived and developed the farmhouse where Indi now resides. Rose’s story unfolds, as Indi continues to struggle to maintain her property.

Indi battles on despite the many challenges she is facing drawing strength from Rose’s story. The reader applauds her courage and fortitude, but can she beat what seems to be insurmountable odds?

The Windmill In The Silver Gums is an interesting read. Historically it is accurate, and looking back one can be surprised at the ill feelings towards the local hardworking German settlers. The camps they were sent to were primitive and the sudden change in acceptance by the community was daunting.

Fiction, General