A biography of Robert Russell, one of the enterprising and resourceful men who arrived on the Charters Towers goldfield in its infancy in 1873. These men from different parts of the world found a society which readily accepted them and their new ideas. This melting pot of diverse nationalities, attitudes and aspirations shaped the town of Charters Towers. Robert Russell was typical of those who came and stayed. Beginning with his childhood in Scotland, the narrative describes his emigration to Australia, eventual arrival in Charters Towers, and his involvement in the many organisations which provided the needs of those who settled there. As his story unfolds, the history of Charters Towers is seen through the life of one man and his family - the rise and progress of the town and the development of a community. Although details of each place differ, the story of Robert Russell and Charters Towers is synonymous with most settlements in Australia - a tribute to the imagination, self-reliance and sense of community of the people themselves.