'The Australian answer to Gone With The Wind'-- Guardian

'I simply could not put it down.If it hadn't been wrenched from me at mealtimes,I'd have starved'--Daily Mail

'Miss McCullough's novel is excellent'--The Times

'One of the biggest-selling, most widely read books in the history of fiction'--Observer

There ts a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches/or a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest,sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles.For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain Or so says the legend.

ONE     1915-1917  Meggie

TWO     1921-1928  Ralph

THREE    1929-1932  Paddy

FOUR     1933-1938  Luke

FIVE     1938-1953  Fee

SIX     1954-1965  Dane

SEVEN    1965--1969 Justine