Empire of Rum: The Unofficial Economy of Early Australia
About this audiobook
Empire of Rum – The Unofficial Economy of Early Australia uncovers the hidden history of how alcohol built a colony and continues to shape a nation.
In the early years of New South Wales, coins were scarce and rum became the unofficial currency. From the notorious Rum Corps to the only military coup in Australian history, alcohol was never just a drink - it was a tool of power, control and survival. Officers, merchants and settlers all traded in dependency, laying the foundations of a society where rum flowed more freely than money.
But this story is not confined to the past. Drawing bold connections between colonial rum trading and modern-day Australia, Empire of Rum reveals how alcohol continues to drive dysfunction - fuelling crime, family breakdown, and a justice system both overwhelmed and quietly dependent on alcohol-related cases.
From the Rum Rebellion to today’s courtrooms, from colonial taverns to family law battles, this book traces a clear line: alcohol has always been more than a drink in Australia. It is a currency of control.
This is history with consequences - an unflinching look at the roots of Australian identity and the unfinished legacy of rum.
About the author
Ylia Callan is an independent researcher and writer whose work explores the intersections of history, law and society. With a focus on uncovering hidden systems of control, Callan’s books examine how power structures often disguise themselves in everyday life - from colonial economies to modern institutions.
Born and based in Australia, Callan brings a local perspective to national history, weaving together archival research, social critique and lived experience. Empire of Rum continues this mission, exposing the long shadow of alcohol in both Australia’s colonial foundations and its contemporary struggles.
