The Warrumbar

William J. Byrne

On the day man first walks on the moon thirteen-year-old Robbie Brennan meets Moses, an old man camped by the side of the road. Over the following months, Robbie is drawn to Moses’ stories — tales of hardship, war, and redemption — unearthing a past entwined with his own. When Robbie learns that Moses grew up at the Mission, the Aboriginal reserve that once existed on the outskirts of town, with his mother Delsie, Robbie’s understanding of his family’s history and identity is forever changed.

At home, Robbie must navigate the unpredictable wrath of his beloved but sometimes violent father, a man whose temper keeps the household in a constant state of anxiety. But when Robbie witnesses a tragic event at the Warrumbar dam, his world is shaken further. Haunted by his past in the boys' home and terrified of the consequences, he faces a choice: speak the truth and risk everything or stay silent and carry the burden forever.

But in a small country town where a boy like Robbie — poor, on society’s margins, and with ‘some of that black blood in him’ — is rarely believed, does the truth matter? Set against the backdrop of 1969 Australia, The Warrumbar is a compelling coming-of-age story about love, injustice, and the courage it takes to do what’s right.

Reviews

“A moving coming-of-age novel... Byrne’s story evokes classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Jasper Jones, capturing innocence, conscience and identity in a divided country. A tender, powerful novel about truth and the courage it demands.”—CHERYL AKLE, The Weekend Australian 

"Byrne has created a quiet and thoughtful novel, exploring the tentativeness of the relationship between the boy and his father, and between the boy and the elderly relative. In its expose of racism the tone is not one of anger and blame, but of working towards better understanding. The moral dilemma is a powerful one and is worked through in a way that has some surprises, with an unpredictable but probably very realistic conclusion. This is a debut novel from William J Byrne; here’s hoping there will be more."—Helen Eddy, Read Plus

"Byrne gently writes, then you are surprised with gut wrenchingly raw descriptions of life for the marginalised and disadvantaged in a small town (or perhaps in town in Australia,). This one, two punch of gentle/raw is powerful and unexpected."—Carol Seeley, Reading Writing and Reisling

"The fast-paced drama, enhanced by a powerful psychological undercurrent, makes for riveting reading. Through the rippling silence of secrets, Byrne creates a visceral haunting that creeps into tranquil landscapes and the happiest of times. His portrayal of human fragility is exquisite, as is his ability to write multifaceted characters."—Monique Grbec, The Saturday Paper

Book details

ISBN: 978-1-76080-311-7

PUBLICATION DATE: 6 October 2025

FORMAT: paperback, 0.5kg, 234x153mm

EXTENT: 300 pages

RIGHTS: World

CATEGORY: Fiction

PRICE: $34.99 AUD incl GST