Terre Vraiment Étrange: French Travel Writing in Australia between the Gold Rush and Federation Figure 1: Indigenous Australian photographed by French traveller Antoine Fauchery

I would like to thank first and foremost my supervisors, Bronwyn Winter (French) and Robert Aldrich (History). Thank you for your helpful insights, for your detailed and constructive feedback, for your willingness to push me, and for putting me on a deadline, without which this thesis would not have been written! I am doubly honoured to have two remarkable scholars inspire this thesis. Many teachers over the years have unfolded the joy of learning and helped me discover my dual passions for history and French. Specifically, Richard White, Ann Curthoys and Shino Konishi kindly provided insights on travel writing and Aboriginal history respectively. I am grateful to the generous benefactors of the Emile M Schweitzer Honours Scholarship who made this year financially possible. From a young age, my parents have cultivated my love of learning. While I have been working on my thesis, thank you for being a sounding board to discuss my next step and consolidate my thoughts, for proof-reading diligently, and for cheering me on. Countless dear friends have generously provided encouragement, a listening ear, prayer support, company while working, and refreshing moments of joy when I needed a break. You have my deepest thanks. To the many people who, upon hearing my thesis topic, asked if there were any French travel writers in Australia between the Gold Rush and Federation, thank you for reminding me theirs is a story that deserves telling! Final thanks to my God, who has been good to me, graciously sustaining me throughout this year