Sidharta Books & Print

RESEARCHING his new book led Newtown historian Barry Abley to explore old battle sites in Africa, as well as Ballarat's past.
inkonkoni is the title of his historical novel. It tells the tale of a colonial Victorian in the 1870s, who attended Ballarat's School of Mines. When the main character's best mate is murdered during a payroll hold-up, he promises to track down the murderers to bring them to justice.
His chosen path takes him to Zululand in South Africa, where war is brewing.
Abley visited the old, battle sites for just over a month as part of his extensive research.
The School of Mines still stands in Lydiard St and is now part of the University of Ballarat. "It's still amazing, you can walk through the building and just envisage exactly how it was back then,' Mr Abley said. Readers will note other local references - the main character resides in Dawson St.
The book will be officially released later this year.
Its release will coincide with 125th anniversary the beginning of the Anglo-Zulu War in Africa.