What is the setting of The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough?

The Thorn Birds is set primarily on Drogheda, a sheep ranch in the Australian Outback, an area McCullough is fond of and has extensive knowledge of. Long sections of the lengthy book lovingly detail the flora and fauna of Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland, often for pages. McCullough also devotes space to the social and historical events of Australia, such as the roving sheepherders and depression era tramps. Compared to McCullough's detailed descriptions of the 5-foot long lizards, kangaroos, droughts and flies of New South Wales, her descriptions of Rome, Sydney and Greece are almost non-existent.