Book Description

This is the inspiring true story of nine-year-old Lennie Gwyther who, at the height of the Great Depression in 1932, rode his pony from his home town of Leongatha in rural Victoria to Sydney to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lennie’s 1,000-kilometre solo journey captured the imagination of the nation, and his determination and courage provided hope to many at a difficult time in Australia’s history. Lennie the Legend begins with a terrible accident on the family farm, when Lennie, remarkably at such a young age, takes on the responsibility for the ploughing. Lennie is obsessed with the marvel of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and, as a reward for saving the farm from missing the planting season, his parents grant him his wish to ride on his own to Sydney for the opening of the bridge. Lennie has all sorts of adventures along the way—a thief lurking in the bush in the dead of night, a raging bushfire, surprise appearances, celebrations in his honour, being the star of a newsreel, and meeting the Prime Minister. At the end of each chapter, a double-page spread provides information on topics relating to the chapter, such as The Great War (the personal effects of war; Captain Leo Tennyson Gwyther); Living on the Land (farming life; growing up on a farm); The Great Depression (economic turmoil; surviving the depression); Australia’s Capital City (building Canberra; Parliament House); City Living (Australian cities in the 1930s; Melbourne–Sydney rivalry); The Sydney Harbour Bridge (constructing the bridge; opening the bridge). The story and the information spreads have black-and-white and colour illustrations, including photographs of Lennie at the time. Also provided at the end of the book is a glossary, background reading and an index.