Murray Middleton’s latest novel is informed by his own experiences growing up in Melbourne’s inner north, years working inside Flemington’s only public secondary school, and hundreds of hours of interviews with former students, their families, their teachers, and local police. This access to the towers’ residents gave Middleton license for the book’s “unflinching realism,” which is fictional but based on real events. Every scene in the novel is inspired by a true event recounted by one of his interview subjects to ensure authenticity. Middleton’s career began with accolades, winning The Australian/Vogel’s Award and The Age Short Story award in 2015.
Middleton’s latest book was published years after his debut, during which he worked a series of physically demanding, low-paid side hustles. Despite the gap in output, he emphasizes that it’s the work not the accolades that drive him, highlighting the financial challenges of fiction writing in Australia. Middleton recalls a moment of recognition on the floor of the Younghusband Woolstore in Kensington, where he was a winner of The Age Short Story competition while working on a set. He maintains that he is both the worker struggling to make ends meet and the writer receiving accolades for his literary work. The physical and mentally demanding jobs he has held have helped reset him and earn his time to write.
During a lunch at Cassette, a zero-waste cafe in Kensington, Middleton shares insights into the sensory overload and unique observations that inspired the setting of his novel in “F-Town.” His book features finely attuned observations of Flemington, its landmarks, and the tower-dwelling youth who congregate beneath the CityLink bridge. The novel is set against the backdrop of a local secondary school undergoing a reinvention that raises questions about gentrification, privilege, and public housing. The school’s attempts to attract aspirational families while erasing its reputation as a last-resort option are explored through the eyes of students, teachers, and the principal.
Middleton explains that the school in the novel is based on the former Debney Park College, rebranded as Mount Alexander College, where he worked as an integration aide. The reinvention of the school and its implications for students from public housing forms a central theme in the book. Middleton’s own experiences growing up in Parkville and attending University High, a public school with a mix of privileged and disadvantaged students, inform his storytelling. His interactions with students from different backgrounds, negotiating daily interactions on footy teams, in the yard, and in the classroom, contribute to his understanding of the complexities of social dynamics in schools.
As Middleton reflects on his career and the challenges of balancing physical work with his writing vocation, he emphasizes the importance of authenticity and his drive to produce good work. Despite financial struggles and the need to work multiple jobs to support his family, Middleton remains committed to his craft. The novel, shaped by real-life events and experiences, offers a nuanced portrayal of life in Flemington’s towers and the challenges faced by residents, students, and teachers. Middleton’s dedication to capturing the essence of the community and ensuring the authenticity of each scene underscores his commitment to storytelling and exploring the complexities of urban life in Melbourne’s inner north.
