DID you know the Maranoa and south-west Queensland helped decide whether our state should be a part of Australia?

A new book has unveiled how the local member for Maranoa at the turn of the 20th century, Sir Arthur Rutledge, helped unite the country by preventing Queensland from breaking away from the Commonwealth.

The book's author and the great-grandson of Mr Rutledge, Graham Wilcox, said how his ancestor accomplished the feat was nothing short of extraordinary.

"The main point is if he had not been around, Queensland would have been separate country," he said.

"It only came in on a whisker, but he was desperate to do something to stop the separation.

"Of all the other electorates that voted yes [for Federation], the Maranoa was the only one from regional Queensland, along with Brisbane."

Mr Wilcox said Mr Rutledge's success partially came from utilising print media at the time, where he was aided by allies.

"His son-in-law Charles was the editor of the Courier and Arthur said to him to run this story," he said.

"Charles got it in every regional paper and Arthur went around and talked about the objections to Federation (and why it was wrong).

"Before long, he had got people talking."

The Struggle for Unity will be available to purchase next month.

The book launch of The Struggle for Unity will be on September 24 at the Roma Community Arts Centre from 3.30pm. Books are essential. Phone 46240301.