In 1882 Rusden retired to England on a pension of £500 a year. He had for some time been working on his History of Australia and his History of New Zealand, which were published in 1883, each in three volumes.
Rusden left his position in 1882 with a yearly payment of £500. He was occupied for some time in writing the History of Australia and the History of New Zealand, both of which were published in 1883, each comprising three volumes.