New Edition: Vagabond, the Story of Charles Sanger

Front cover

A new edition Vagabond, the Story of Charles Sanger will be launched by local author Robyn Annear at 12pm this Saturday (23 May) in the Castlemaine library foyer. The book was first written in 2008 by Bernard Slattery, Doug Ralph and Deirdre Slattery and published by Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests. 

Due to continued interest in the book, FOBIF decided on a new edition this year, when the first one sold out after 18 years. With a new cover and layout, the 2026 version fleshes out some of the stranger themes in the story and suggests that Sanger’s case was not an isolated one.

The Sanger story

The book is the story of a Fryerstown man, Charles Sanger (1880-1953).

‘He was a dashing but elusive character. Journalists called him the Fryers Bushranger, but he never held up anyone with a gun, and the gun he did have never worked anyway.

He served time in jail, but was well liked by ordinary people. He was one of the last of the bush hermits, and his story is also the story of the changing bush, of a time lost in history, and of a quiet country community that looked after its own.’

Everyone is welcome at the launch and refreshments will be provided. Vagabond will be available for sale for $20. You will also be able to buy if at Stonemans Bookroom and the Castlemaine Vistors Information Centre. 

You can find out more about the book and details of how to purchase it online here.