THE CONVICT AND THE COMPASS – The Untold Story of James
Meehan – By Peter Bradley.
Reviewed by Bill Stephens.
Peter Bradley is a Canberra writer whose first book Convicted
inspired by the discovery of his great-grandfather’s first-hand account of
surviving a shipwreck, was an engrossing retelling of a father, son and
grandson entwined with the history of Australia, from the landing of the First
Fleet in 1788.
Bradley’s latest book, The Convict and the Compass is
a richly detailed and deeply human portrait of James Meehan, an Irish political
prisoner whose quiet precision and dedication as a surveyor, helped lay the
foundations of modern Australia.
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| Author Peter Bradley. |
Far from the celebrated names of early colonial exploration, Meehan’s story has been long overshadowed. Bradley’s work turns a long-overdue spotlight on to a man whose maps and town plans shaped the nation’s early settlement.
The book blends meticulous historical research with an
engaging narrative style, making it accessible to both history enthusiasts and
casual readers. Bradley, himself a descendant of Meehan, writes with a personal
warmth that adds emotional depth without sacrificing scholarly rigour.
The descriptions of Meehan’s surveying expeditions, from
trudging through dense bushland to charting the layout of emerging towns, are
vivid and immersive, giving readers a sense of the physical and intellectual
challenges of the work.
In the manner of a well-paced stage production, Bradley sets
his scenes with care, drawing the reader into the raw, often unforgiving
landscapes of earth 19th -century New South Wales.
His prose has a measured rhythm, allowing the drama of Meehan’s
transformation, from convict shackled by circumstance to a man whose maps would
shape the very bones of the colony, to unfold with understated power.
Bradley knows when to step back and let his subject take
centre stage. Meehan emerges not as a romanticised hero, but as a man of grit,
precision, and quiet ambition.
The book’s strength lies in its balance. The historical
detail is rich without ever feeling academic, and the human story is told with
warmth and respect.
What stands out most is the way Bradley frames Meehan, not
just as a skilled professional, but as a man navigating the complexities of
colonial politics, personal redemption, and the lingering stigma of his convict
past.
The book also subtly challenges the “great man” narrative of
Australian exploration, showing how unsung figures like Meehan were
indispensable to the colony’s development.
A large (600 pages) impressively produced publication, The Convict and the Compass comes with informative prologue and epilogue, pages of photos, maps, research information and a comprehensive index. Making it not only a compelling and respectful tribute to a forgotten figure of
Australian history, but also a must-read for those interested in early colonial history,
the hidden contributions of convicts, and the human stories behind the maps
that shaped a nation.
Published in 2025 by Ventura Press.
