ABSTRACT
Most books about Australia that were published around the turn of the century were written by comparatively prosperous middle-class travellers, none of whom lived in the country long enough to present an in-depth account of the social life. To escape the permanent threat of unemployment Hansel went to Bong Bong near Moss Vale for two and a half years as assistant to a scientist with the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. The New Year began with bonfires and rockets, with noise and music-making. Favoured by the climate, all cities in Australia celebrate the change of year. The roads are packed with people who express their high spirits in all kinds of harmless ways: whistling, trumpeting, singing and so on. At midnight all the bells ring for a long time, and the steamships in the harbour sound their whistles.
