The House on River Terrace

by James Moloney

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

My full name is James Francis Moloney and I was born in Sydney, Australia on 20 September, 1954. When I was seven years old, my family moved to Brisbane and except for the odd year or two, I have lived in Brisbane ever since. At school, I was into every sport going - cricket, footy, swimming - you name it. It's hard to believe now but in High School, I was a champion Long Jumper! After University I became a teacher and then a Teacher Librarian. I moved around from school to school and in 1977-8 found myself in Cunnamulla, a little "outback" town where many Indigenous Australians live. These turned out to be important years for my writing.

In 1980, I look a year's leave, stuffed a backpack full of clothes and went off to see the world. Got to do it, guys! There's so much out there, from things to uplift your spirit to things that make you question the humanity of your fellow man. I stepped over rotting dog carcasses in Mexico city, got all weepy in a roomful of Impressionist paintings and met some fascinating people. Hope you'll do the same one day.

1983 was another big year. I got married and started work at Marist College Ashgrove, an all-boys school in Brisbane, where I stayed for fifteen years. During this time, I became interested in writing for young people, at first using the ideas and experiences gained from my time in Cunnamulla, mixed in with the thinking and wondering I'd done overseas. After my early attempts were rejected, the first of my novels, Crossfire , was published in 1992.
In 1997, my fifth novel for young adults, A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove won the Australian Children's Book of the Year Award. At the end of that year, I decided to leave teaching and become a full time writer.

In the mean time, my wife and I have produced three great children, two of whom are currently studying at University. Photos of them to the right, along with my lovely wife, Kate, who has encouraged me along every step of the way.

Now that I have turned my hobby into my job, I have had to develop some other interests. For exercise, I go cycling along the bike paths around Brisbane. I'm also into great books, great food, movies, travelling, learning to speak French and I dabble in a little painting. In recent years Kate and I have spent an extended period in France, cycled through Vietnam and soon we will be off to the USA.

Reviews

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written story in which Ben Fielding is the 16 year old son of a conservative politician. He is a dreamer and an artist whose friendship with the wild spirited street kid, Jess, draws him inevitably into conflict with his father.

[Jayne Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I did cringe when he threw the shoe away but apart from that! I really liked how Ben's story with historical journals and stories from his ancestors. A really important story and great to have Aboriginal perspectives as well. I loved how it was set in Brisbane and I was familiar with all the locations. It's great to read Australian authors and Brisbane is only 2 hours from where I live. I don't often get to read about local history in novels. This made me appreciate the story even more.

I picked this book up for $1 at an Op Shop. A very well spent dollar! The book was previously owned by a High School library. This book was first published in 1995 but I believe it is still extremely relevant today (2025).

[Judy Wollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben drifted through school and his family and wondered what it was all about. He joined his father to visit a ramshackle old house on the river. Ben wanders outside not interested in what his father or the person with him were discussing. People hanging around next door catch Ben’s eye. Then he sees an old shoe. Who are the people? What is their link to Ben? What family history links the shoe and Bens family to the old house?
I enjoyed the local Brisbane history and politics tied to the story.
Recommended for Tweens 12+ / YA particularly those interested in Brisbane, social history, and homelessness.

[Meredith Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy to read story that I enoyed thanks to all the Brisbane references, historic and modern.