Dr Pawsey’s The Popish Plot is a history of what never was – a popish plot to take over Victoria around 1860 to 1863. It makes fascinating reading. It is also quite partisan.

Considered from one angle this is the tale of four exceptional years, 1860-1863, when Victoria’s catholics suffered the full assault of protestant bigotry on a lavish and unprecedented scale. Protestants reminded catholics that they were welcome to settle in Victoria so long as they did not covet the place occupied by their ruling Anglo-protestant hosts.