Beyond the Western Margin

If you're reading the book, you may be interested in larger scale maps that help to show where Dan and his family went to escape.

Where is Roses Gap? Where is Heatherlie Quarry?

Where is the Western Margin (and is it real)?

All these questions and more are answered below.

Would you like to go Beyond the Western Margin?

Australia

Dan and his family live in Australia where the main language spoken is English. For money, we use the Australian dollar. One important fact about Australia is its location in the southern hemisphere: our summer fills December, January and February while our winter lasts from June to August.

Victoria

Victoria is in the southeast corner of the Australian mainland where a temperate climate makes the state the best of a pretty good bunch. Despite being the smallest of the mainland states, Victoria is bigger than England and almost as big as the United Kingdom. In fact, if Victoria was a part of America, it would be the twelfth-biggest state!

Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria and more than 75% of the state's population live there, leaving the rest of Victoria's enormous and beautiful area quite sparsely populated. The Grampians National Park lies in the west of the state, a place of great natural beauty, fascinating wildlife, varied flora and an extensive, restful calm.

This story, Beyond the Western Margin, is set in many real locations in Victoria. The roads, mountains, tracks and distances referred to all reflect the true locations of places in and around the Grampians.

The Western Margin?

In Beyond the Western Margin, the troubles with COVID, other pandemics and resulting national and international problems have prompted the government of Victoria to pull back from the borders of the state due to its vast size and various perceived threats to the security of the state. In effect, they have reduced the size of the state but cutting off less populated areas also deemed less necessary to the state's survival. However, it is probably not surprising that they do not formally redraw the state's boundaries, but instead introduce another kind of border they call a "margin".

Areas of the state beyond these margins are not completely cut off from the state, and the government says they retain the right to exercise control at any time they choose. However, in practice, the areas are neither directly controlled nor supported and the population consider that the break is final.

The map below shows in red the Northern, Eastern and Western margins described in the story. The central area of Victoria within the margins was crafted to include the areas considered most important for agriculture, electricity and water supply and defence.

Although it may not please Mr Ortrick, there are already signs that the areas beyond the margins are starting to find their feet and even thrive.

Don't forget that these "margins" are imaginary, created as part of the story.

Map of Victoria

Don't forget that the "margins" shown in the map are imaginary, created as part of the story.

Clicking or tapping on the map will show more detail.

EXPLORE

Beyond the Western Margin

Repeated COVID pandemics have ravaged Australia, leaving the country fractured and fearful. With more restrictions coming, Dan and his family seize what might be their last opportunity to escape from Melbourne and the shrinking state of Victoria that surrounds it.

Warnings of danger and lawlessness in the “uncivilised” lands beyond the Western Margin cannot overcome the attractions of the Grampians National Park – the scene of carefree holidays in pre-pandemic days.

The journey is difficult and dangerous, but when new friends ask them to manage a camp venue on the boundary of the National Park they eagerly agree.

Dan finds himself with no shortage of work to do or skills to learn. And a puzzle to solve: who is NK2?

Will they regret their decision to shelter Beyond the Western Margin?

Map of the Northern Grampians

This map shows the location of the events of Beyond the Western Margin from the time Dan and his family arrive in Stawell.

Clicking or tapping on the map will show more detail.

Introducing

Beyond the Western Margin

Briggs Bluff Walk

The Characters

Dan Turner is a 17-year old boy who has just finished secondary school (Year 12 or VCE). Frustrated by the thought of more lockdowns and restrictions, he is eager to escape from Melbourne. His interest in sport makes him eager to help with the camp. Soon he is caught up in other activities as well: there are mysteries to solve and lessons to learn.
Belinda Turner is Dan's 15-year old sister. She loves numbers and takes any opportunity she can find to make Dan look silly.
Nathan and Tanya Turner are Dan and Belinda's parents. Originally from South Australia, the idea that they are 'foreigners' in Victoria is hard to accept.
Alex Holland is the son of Terry and Linda Holland, familiar with what is needed to run camps at the Roses Gap Camp.
Brad Jessop is the self-styled chairman of the self-styled National Park Committee. Charging unwarranted fees may not be all he does.
Craig is Brad's right-hand man.
Fergus Norton is walking the Grampians Peaks Trail when Dan meets him.
Dave Turner is Dan's cousin who lives in Adelaide with his parents.

The Plot

Osmond Ortrick is the premier's son, so when he drops hints about a new lockdown, Dan takes him seriously. The nightly news confirms the situation and Dan's family decide to head for the hills - the Grampians National Park, beyond the Western Margin.
Arriving in Stawell, the Turner family soon finds a job to do managing the Roses Gap Campsite with help from Alex Holland.
Brad Jessop and the National Park Committee are claiming control over the National Park. The Turners plan to do their best to stop them.
In the meantime, Dan wants to learn more about the Bible and Alex helps him. Even Dan's parents decide to look at religion more seriously.
Petty theft and violent armed robberies set the stage for an exciting showdown.
And who is NK2?

Briggs Bluff walk

Disclaimer...

The story and all of the characters are fictional; any similarity with any existing people or names is purely coincidental. However, it is set in many real locations in the state of Victoria in south-eastern Australia. The existence of a bad guy trying to take over Halls Gap and the Grampians National Park is simply part of the story and not intended to reflect badly on the pleasant town of Halls Gap, where the author has spent many happy days with his family.

As a story placed a few years in the future, there are many guesses and assumptions of possible changes due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and possible subsequent pandemics. These may or may not prove to be well-founded guesses: only time will tell!

The story is not intended as any sort of praise, criticism, or deep analysis of past or existing government policies or actions; any references to suggested future policies are simply part of the storyline imagined by the author.

There is an existing resort near the Beehive Falls parking area, but I have never visited it, beyond a brief look at their website. The camp site described in this story may or may not bear much similarity to that resort – I don’t know. There is no connection between the author and the existing resort and no suggestion of their approval or otherwise of this story.

General information...

For more information about places or people described in this novel, see: