The Secret River Characters

Ned is one of Thornhill's convict servants. He offers no last name and reminds Thornhill of Rob. Though he's not particularly skilled or useful in working Thornhill's land, he's surprisingly adept with guns. He's fearful of the Aborigines and suggests using violence against them.

Scabby Bill is an Aborigine who hangs around the settlement at Sydney. The Thornhills give him bread and rum when he sleeps outside their hut, and occasionally, he dances for patrons at Sal's rum bar in exchange for rum.

Mr. King employs Thornhill in Sydney, and later lends him money to purchase the Hope.

John is Thornhill and Sal's third baby, and their first to be born in Australia. He's a sickly child and Thornhill believes he'll die, but he survives nonetheless.

Johnny is Thornhill and Sal's fourth child. He's a sturdy, happy boy and loves to tinker with things.

Mary is Thornhill and Sal's fifth child.

Dolly is Thornhill and Sal's last child.

Black Dick is what Sal and Thornhill call one of the younger Aboriginal men who lives near them.

Sal dubs one of the native women she sees often “Polly.”

Captain McCallum is sent by the Governor in Sydney to deal with the natives on the Hawkesbury River. He's a pompous man and believes the British army can surely deal with the natives, though his plan backfires and he leaves with his military in poor shape.

Lord Hawkesbury is the man with the power to save condemned men from hanging in London. He instead sends them to New South Wales for the term of their natural life. In New South Wales, the Hawkesbury River is named after him.

Devine is an Irishman who builds Mr. Thornhill's villa on the Hawkesbury River.

Lovegood is one of Thornhill's neighbors on the Hawkesbury. He was a higher-class man in London, so he knows how to read and uses more sophisticated English.

Collarbone is one of Thornhill's childhood friends. Half his face is bright red and he loves Thornhill's sister, Lizzie. He's hanged after being caught with stolen Spanish brandy, leaving a strong impression on young Thornhill.

Mr. Lucas is a fat ship owner who is rumored to want to be Lord Mayor of London. He employs Yates as a foreman to hire lightermen and doesn't tolerate thievery from his employees.

Yates is Mr. Lucas's foreman. He's a fair man and tries to allow Thornhill to escape when he’s caught stealing from Mr. Lucas.

Mr. Knapp is the lawyer assigned to Thornhill during his trial for stealing Brazil wood.

Captain Watson is one of Thornhill's regular customers on the Thames. He writes a letter to help Thornhill after he receives his death sentence.

Mr. Middleton is Sal's father. He's a successful waterman who takes Thornhill on as an apprentice. He's kind and generous to Sal, though also sad and stern after many of his babies die within their first month of life. He dies of a fever, leaving his business to Thornhill.

Mrs. Middleton is Sal's mother. She dies after breaking her hip and seems to refuse to heal.

Mary is Thornhill's oldest sister. She's sharp and torments her younger siblings.

Lizzie is Thornhill's older sister. She's not old enough to work and is put in charge of caring for Ma's babies instead. She's kind and Thornhill considers her more motherly than Ma.

Ma is Thornhill's mother. She sews shrouds with Mary to support her family and dies when Thornhill is very young.

William's father. He dies when William is a young teenager, leaving him an orphan and the family without a head.