The White Earth

The book follows a dual narrative between the perspectives of William and John, where William's takes place over the time period of late 1992 to 1993 and John's takes place from his childhood up to the present of 1993.

William's narrative follows his father dying in an explosion and William and his mother being invited by John to Kuran Station. At the station, William learns from John some stories of the land and is introduced to the water hole. John then organises an anti-Native Title rally, which ends in disaster as it gets out of control. At the rally, William sees a burning man in nausea and John is injured in the chaos. After the rally, John's daughter, Ruth, arrives in awareness of John's injury, and the daughter and father are shown to have a bad relationship. After an argument between John and Ruth, William experiences a moment of realisation and leaves for the water hole. At the water hole, he finds it to be empty, despite it being described as always flowing. After William is driven back to Kuran House by Ruth, he realises that there were bones inside the empty water hole. John drives William to retrieve the bones and proceeds to burn them, resulting in the entire house catching fire.

Dedication: For my parents, whose life this isn't.

Author's note: This is a work of fiction. While the Darling Downs are real enough, the northern parts of the region do not exist as described here. This story is not meant to portray any actual place, person or event.

• Festival Awards for Literature (SA), Dymocks Booksellers Award for Fiction, 2006: shortlisted
• International Dublin Literary Award, 2006: longlisted
• Commonwealth Writers Prize, South East Asia and South Pacific Region, Best Book, 2005: winner
• Miles Franklin Literary Award, 2005: winner
• The Age Book of the Year Award, Fiction Prize, 2004: winner
• Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, Best Fiction Book, 2004: shortlisted
• The Courier-Mail Book of the Year Award, 2004: winner

• "The Age"
• "The Sydney Morning Herald"

La Boite Theatre Company, Brisbane, Australia.

23 February – 21 March 2009

Adapted and Directed by Shaun Charles and Andrew McGahan
Designer Greg Clarke
Lighting Designer David Walters
Sound Designer/Composer Guy Webster
Cinematic Design Markwell Presents
Cast Stace Callaghan, Dan Eady, Penny Everingham, Kathryn Marquet, Veronica Neave, Anthony Phelan & Steven Tandy

• La Boite's website with Production Information
• La Boite brings Andrew McGahan's White Earth to life
• Warped Soul in a Harsh Land - Interview with leading actor
• Gothic Drama Makes for an Epic Feast - Review of Stage Production.
• La Boite's White Earth Stretches to Mythic Proportions - Review of Stage Production.
• Australian Stage - Review of stage production
• http://www.colorado.edu/geography/class_homepages/geog_1982_f06/NativeTitle-TheWhiteEarth.pdf