Empire of Rum

Book Description

Empire of Rum – The Unofficial Economy of Early Australia traces the hidden story of how alcohol shaped both the foundations of the Australian colony and the structures of power that endure today.

In the absence of coins or stable currency, rum became the lifeblood of early New South Wales - fuelling an underground economy where officers, merchants, and settlers alike were bound by dependence. From the notorious Rum Corps to the only military coup in Australian history, alcohol was never just a drink - it was a weapon of control, a currency of survival and a lever of power.

But the story does not end with the past. This book exposes how the echoes of the rum economy continue to resonate in modern Australia. Alcohol remains the silent engine of dysfunction - driving family breakdown, fuelling crime and clogging the justice system. Today, as then, the few profit from the dependency of the many.

Blending history, social critique, and modern analysis, Empire of Rum reveals the long shadow of alcohol - from colonial rum trades to today's courtrooms, prisons, and family law battles. It is a story of exploitation and resilience, power and corruption, and the hidden economy that continues to shape a nation.