The landscape of New Southland, once blanketed in dense forests, had transformed dramatically over the preceding decades. Now steadily receding, towering pines and coastal oaks gave way to the relentless hum of sawmills working day and night; their timber fueling the nation’s growth - fencing vast homesteads, building new homes and inns, expanding docks, constructing ships, and feeding the hearths of a growing population. As each acre was cleared, it yielded fresh purpose: pastures for cattle and sheep, and farmland for wheat, barley, and vegetables.

Grazing in particular had surged over the past two decades, and with it came a boom in livestock. Sheep and cattle numbers surged, fueling demand for organised markets. The most prominent of these, the Port Arthur Livestock Markets, was established on a wide tract of land along the Great Southern Road, just beyond the town’s limits. It became a weekly spectacle, and a permanent hub for ranchers, traders, and drovers.

As land values rose and populations grew within the urban centres, development grew denser. Sandstone terraces began to line the streets of Port Arthur; timber tenements filled the growing districts of La Perouse; and brick rowhomes spread outward from Port Gilbert - built to house both families and workers flocking to the towns for opportunity.

Around Parliament House, the first multi-storey office buildings began to take shape. Although modest in size, they symbolised New Southland’s transition from a rough frontier outpost to an organised, self-assured nation, and marked the emergence of a growing professional class. Among their tenants were some of New Southland’s most influential institutions:

• Gaspard Devenue's New Southland Whaling Company;
• Bond & Co, the whaling enterprise founded by William Bond operating out of Double Bay;
• The New Southland Herald, the nation’s first newspaper;
• JB Agricultural Holdings, originally a small farming business set up by Joseph Billings, now becoming a major land holder along Deer Creek; and
• Marchmont International, a merchant shipping venture rapidly growing in stature.

In February of 1808, New Southland celebrated twenty years of settlement - a moment of deep national pride. Celebrations were held in every corner of the country - from the bustling harbour towns of Port Arthur and La Perouse, to the rolling countryside of the Eastern Territories. Commander Arthur Portsman had led the nation since the first landing at Arthur's Cove back in 1788. His two decades of leadership had brought with it both stability and growth. He had overseen the nation’s transformation from a settlement of survivors into a thriving, self-governing state. But with the introduction of the new parliamentary system, his leadership was no longer a certainty, and over the next 18 months, campaigns began for New Southland's first general election. The election of 1810 would determine not only half the House of Commons and the four Territorial Governors, but also the position of Commander itself.

Now approaching sixty, Portsman announced he would contest the leadership one final time, running on a platform of continued growth, particularly eastward, and drawing heavily on his legacy. The New Southland Herald backed him, calling him “the builder of the nation". But for the first time, Arthur faced some serious competition - and not just from rivals, but from old allies too...

Among his challengers was an unexpected figure: his brother-in-law, William Buck. Once his loyal Deputy Commander, now seeking his own ambitions, Buck had been instrumental in several pivotal moments - the mutiny aboard the Charlotte, the influential letter to King Louis XVI, and the successful defence against the British incursion of 1796. Buck was acutely aware of the regional threats to New Southland's existence, and campaigned on strengthening national defences and expanding diplomatic ties with key allies overseas.

Another strong competitor entering the race was Jean-Baptiste Lemoine - Speaker of the House. Positioning himself as the bridge between the English, French and Hakawan communities with his ability to speak all three national languages, Lemoine promised to unite New Southland through construction of nation-building infrastructure, the establishment of minimum working conditions, and a skilled immigration program targeting artisans, engineers and professionals across Europe.

From the business elite came Gaspard Devenue, the founder of the powerful NSWC. A man of immense wealth and ambition, Devenue ran on a platform of industrial expansion, economic liberalisation, and job creation. His supporters - mostly merchants, factory owners, and land speculators - saw in him the promise of wealth, though critics feared he would entrench inequality.

Finally, there was Agada Nokolufa, the son of the revered Hakawan chief. Backed by the influential Gilbert family, Agada drew strong support among Hakawan communities and progressive settlers. Though virtually unheard of outside of Port Gilbert, his campaign focused on education, public health, civil services, and environmental protections.

As the campaigning reached its height, the New Southland Herald ran full-page columns, towns held spirited debates, and taverns buzzed with speculation. Five distinct visions for the nation now stood before the people:

1. The founder.
2. The defender.
3. The unifier.
4. The industrialist.
5. The idealist.

Would New Southland reaffirm its founder with one final term or would the nation choose to chart a bold new course? Only time, and the vote of the people, would tell...