It was while researching something completely different that Dr Adrian Haas stumbled across the Newstead murders.
There
began the talented Dr Haas’ quest to write a book about the terrible
but intriguing crimes committed in the Newstead area between 1857 and
1859.
Alas, the former Newstead resident had
penned much of his work delving into the crimes when he became ill and
departed this life suddenly.
Fortunately Dr Haas’ son, Canberra-based Damien Haas, has finished the work his father began.
The
resulting volume, The Newstead Murders 1857 — 1859 will be publicly
launched on Sunday after the Newstead and District Historical Society
threw its support behind the project and published the book.
“He had almost finished the book,” said Dr Haas’ widow, Carolyn, who remains a part-time resident of Newstead to this day.
Both
she and Mr Haas junior will attend and speak at Sunday’s public launch
of Dr Haas’ book, and Historical Society committee member Cherie Lawton
says all are welcome to the event set for 2 pm at the Newstead Mechanics
Institute.
“There is nothing more that catches
the attention of people than that of a murder, and especially one that
is unsolved,” the Society’s president Derek Reid said.
“Adrian’s book examines four murders that took place in or near Newstead during the 1850s.
“It
also provides an insight into the life and times of the transient
population that were travelling from one gold rush to the next.”
Mrs
Haas believes her husband, whose PhD doctoral thesis focused on
para-professional engineering in Australia, would be pleased to know his
book will finally see the light of day.
“He put so much work into it, it would have been a waste if it hadn’t been finished,” she says.
“Most little towns have got stories. You open the cupboards and out come the skeletons.”
Copies of the book will be available to buy at Sunday’s launch, and then through the Society.
