150 years before Captain Cook arrives with the first fleet in 1788 at Botany Bay, Dutch settlers began populating the other side of the Australian continent. The first of these was Wouter Loos, a young Dutch soldier, put ashore in 1629 at Hutt River in Western Australia, for his part in the mutiny of the Dutch retourship, The Batavia. There the history ends. No one knows what became of him.

This story tells of Wouter’s life among the indigenous community where he fathers a son. He is later joined by other Dutch, who have come ashore from shipwrecks. Wouter’s story weaves its way through Australian history, meeting up with historic characters and events. Finally, in the modern age, an attempt is made to finally locate his remains.

This novel blends historical research and imagination to complete the story of Australia’s very first white settler.

• 248 pages

• Paperback

• Publication 25 April 2026

• Dimensions 150mm x 230 mm