Links to all of the poetry and songs included on the Institute of Australian Culture site, up to 31 November 2015.
See also: Poetry and songs, 1786-1900.
These poems and songs are either written in Australia, by Australians, or regarding Australia. The list includes two works which were created with no direct relationship to Australia, but which have been included as they are an iconic part of Australia’s military traditions: “The Ode of Remembrance” (1914) and “In Flanders’ Fields” (1916).
This list is arranged in chronological order.
Poems included within books on the site are not listed individually; instead, a link is given to the individual books, each of which has its own contents list.
Books and booklets are marked with an asterisk *.
Poetry included within a longer item, such as within articles, newspaper columns, and reviews, are marked with a hash #.
Music videos are listed separately:
1) Rock music and pop music [videos]
2) Folk music and bush music [videos]
3) Early music [videos]
* The Bulletin Reciter: A Collection of Verses for Recitation From “The Bulletin” (1880-1901) [1901]
Book of poetry
* Songs and Verses by Philip Durham Lorimer: An Australian Bush Poet [1901]
Book of poetry
Keep Australia White! [song by P. F. Collins, circa 1901-1918]
A Twilight Song [poem, 9 March 1901]
A Last Word [30 March 1901]
From the “Editorial Mill” section in The Worker. The poem was a call to vote for the Labor Party and a White Australia in the first federal election in Australia.
Vote for Labour [poem, 30 March 1901]
Petherick Pilloried [poem by Dryblower, 14 April 1901]
For Better or Worse [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 21 April 1901]
“Second Nature” [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 21 April 1901]
To Whom It May Concern [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 21 April 1901]
[’Tis certain as sin] [poem, 21 April 1901]
Possibly written by “Dryblower” Murphy. Published in the “Variety Vamps and Sunday Satires” column in The West Australian Sunday Times.
The Awakening [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 May 1901]
Like All Possessing Royal Blood [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 May 1901]
Our Police May Strive to Keep in Check [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 May 1901]
The Penalty [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 May 1901]
To the Jam from the Land of the Southern Cross [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 May 1901]
Eland’s River [poem by George Essex Evans, 3 August 1901]
Waltzing Matilda [song, 14 December 1901]
An early version of “Waltzing Matilda”, published in The Capricornian in 1901.
Ballad of Minnie Ramsay [song, 1902]
My Jennie of Katoomba [song, 1902]
Song of the Sun-Downer [song, 1902]
The Son of a Jackaroo [song, 1902]
South Australia [song, 1902 version]
Brunton Stephens [poem by George Essex Evans, 1 July 1902]
The Maidens of Australia [poem, 1 October 1902]
The Hardest Road [poem by Grant Hervey, 21 December 1902]
Steerage to the West [poem by Grant Hervey, 21 December 1902]
# The tale of a shirt: A tramp’s farewell [24 December 1902]
An article about a poem called “The Tramp’s Farewell”.
A Molloy Melody [poem by Grant Hervey, 28 December 1902]
“When a Man’s Rubbed Out” [poem by Grant Hervey, 28 December 1902]
Chatswood, N.S.W. [poem by Mary E. Richmond, 1903 (1897)]
Katoomba [poem by Mary E. Richmond, 1903]
Kiama, N.S.W. [poem by Mary E. Richmond, 1903 (1897)]
Leura [poem by Mary E. Richmond]
Sydney Harbour (New Year’s Eve, 1897) [poem by Mary E. Richmond, 1903 (1897)]
The Corruption of Angeldom [poem by Grant Hervey, 4 January 1903]
When a Man’s Sewing Buttons on his Pants [poem by Grant Hervey, 4 January 1903]
Io! [poem by Grant Hervey, 11 January 1903]
When Your Hat Blows Off [poem by Grant Hervey, 11 January 1903]
The Land Where the Long Liquors Grow [poem by Grant Hervey, 18 January 1903]
A Prophetic Pome [poem by Grant Hervey, 18 January 1903]
When Your Brains Are Out On Strike [poem by Grant Hervey, 18 January 1903]
Where the Light and the Shadows Lie [poem, 1 February 1903]
The Bold Jack Donohue [song, 29 August 1903]
Lines [poem by Louisa Lawson, 1 April 1904]
A Wish [poem by Louisa Lawson, 1 April 1904]
The Aliens [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 8 May 1904]
Back Again [poem by Louisa Lawson, 1 July 1904]
Coming Home [poem by Louisa Lawson, 1 July 1904]
Flowers [poem, 12 October 1904]
* The Old Bush Songs [edited by Banjo Paterson, 1905]
Book of songs
To Australians [poem by Arthur Bayldon, 1905]
The Jingoes Have Their Lesson: Kruger Returns [poem by Grant Hervey, 16 July 1905]
The Hot Place [poem, 30 August 1905]
Karma [poem by Marie E. J. Pitt, 7 October 1905]
Requiescat [poem, 28 October 1905]
Give Our Own a Show! [poem, 2 February 1906]
To a Sprig of Wattle! [poem, 3 July 1906]
Patriotic Song, “Advance Australia Fair.” [turn of the century version, 26 September 1906]
Australia’s Voice [poem, 20 April 1907]
“We’ve Got a Big Brother in America” [song by “Dryblower” Murphy, (written 1908) published circa 1924]
A song by “Dryblower” Murphy about the visit of the American fleet to Australia in 1908. From the sheet music published circa 1924.
Core of My Heart [“My Country”, poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 24 October 1908]
The Straight Tip [poem advertisements, 30 October 1908]
Wattle Blossoms [poem, 30 October 1908]
Homesick [poem by Dorothy Frances McCrae, 1909]
* Poems [by Agnes L. Storrie, 1909]
Book of poetry
This Bit of the World Belongs to Us [song by “Dryblower” Murphy, circa 1909]
The Men Who Built Our Nation [poem, 11 March 1909]
A Call to the Heart [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 26 September 1909]
W. T. Goodge [by A. G. Stephens, 11 December 1909]
# An article about the death of W. T. Goodge, including some of his poetry.
Golden Wattle [poem by S. T., 1 September 1910]
Golden Wattle, Australia’s Emblem [poem by Ellie Wemyss, 1 September 1910]
“London Board!” [poem by Grant Hervey, 27 November 1910]
* The Horses of the Hills and Other Verses [by Marie E. J. Pitt, 1911]
Book of poetry
A Ballad of Eureka [poem, 19 January 1911]
A poem by Victor Daley about the Eureka Rebellion which occurred in Ballarat in 1854.
The Sodawater Strike [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 21 January 1912]
A Draught [poem by Agnes L. Storrie, 11 May 1912]
* Australians Yet and Other Verses [by Grant Hervey, 1913]
Book of poetry
* Backblock Ballads and Other Verses [by C.J. Dennis, 1913]
Book of poetry
The Wild Colonial Boy [song, 22 August 1913]
The Ode of Remembrance
An ode from the poem “For the Fallen”, by Laurence Binyon, 1914.
The Men Who Made Australia [poem, 19 January 1914]
White Australia [poem, 12 August 1914]
* The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke [by C.J. Dennis, 1915]
Book of poetry
Advance Australia Fair [circa World War One version, 1915?]
A Wattle Day Contrast [7 September 1915]
The Call From the Dardanelles [poem, 6 October 1915]
In Flanders’ Fields [poem, 5 February 1916]
“In Flanders Fields” was written in May 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a surgeon in the Canadian army, who wrote it following the death of a friend on the Western Front. The poem was originally published on 8 December 1915 in Punch magazine (London, UK), and went on to become an iconic part of Remembrance commemorations in Australia and other Allied countries.
Anzacs [poem, 2 May 1916]
Reinforcements [poem, 18 July 1916]
Election Skits: Next Day [poem by “Kookaburra”, 11 August 1916]
Election Skits: Encore [poem by “Kookaburra”, 18 August 1916]
Election skits: Notes on the events [article and poem by “Kookaburra”, [1 September 1916]
# An article about some local council elections, with a short poem.
A Village Blacksmith [poem by “Kookaburra”, 22 September 1916]
Story of an Election Written Years Ago [poem by “Kookaburra”, 3 November 1916]
A Conscription Meeting at Crossley [poem by “Kookaburra”, 24 November 1916]
The Weather the Evergreen Topic [poem by “Kookaburra”, 1 December 1916]
On the Banks of the Beautiful River [poem by “Kookaburra”, 19 January 1917]
The Fusion Age [poem by “Kookaburra”, 6 April 1917]
Somewhere in France [poem, 6 April 1917]
Our Member [poem by “Kookaburra”, 13 April 1917]
Our Noble Sons [poem by “Kookaburra”, 1 June 1917]
The Girl in the Pines [song, 13 November 1917]
Australia’s Men [poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 1918]
* Backblock Ballads and Later Verses [by C. J. Dennis, 1918]
Book of poetry
Box On [poem, 18 January 1918]
The “Dud” [poem, 18 January 1918]
The Interview [poem, 18 January 1918]
Packin’ [poem, 18 January 1918]
Polygon Ridge [poem, 18 January 1918]
The Song of the Bayonet Instructor [poem, 18 January 1918]
[There was a Young Hun of Berlin] [poem, 18 January 1918]
To the Peace Cranks [poem, 18 January 1918]
What Profiteth? [poem, 18 January 1918]
Where We’ve Dossed [poem, 18 January 1918]
The Aftermath [poem, 16 February 1918]
Aussie [poem, 16 February 1918]
Aussiosities [16 February 1918]
# A song was included in the “Aussiosities” column in the 16 February 1918 issue of Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine.
Bullecourt [poem, 16 February 1918]
The Dingbat [poem, 16 February 1918]
From Aussie to Sammy [poem, 16 February 1918]
A Letter [poem, 16 February 1918]
To My Home [poem, 16 February 1918]
A Whiff of Wattle [poem, 16 February 1918]
Aussiosities [8 March 1918]
# Two songs were included in the “Aussiosities” column in the 8 March 1918 issue of Aussie: The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine.
The Chat’s Parade [poem, 8 March 1918]
The Countersign [poem, 8 March 1918]
If Dreams Were Only True [poem, 8 March 1918]
The Last Barrage [poem, 8 March 1918]
Remorse [poem, 8 March 1918]
A Retrospective Spasm [poem, 8 March 1918]
The Shell [poem, 8 March 1918]
The Shire [poem by “Kookaburra”, 8 March 1918]
“The Squatter” [poem, 8 March 1918]
The Critic [12 October 1918]
# Some poetry was included in the “The Critic” column, published in Truth.
The Painful Process [12 October 1918]
* Heart of Spring [by John Shaw Neilson, 1919]
Book of poetry
I’m Going Back Again to Yarrawonga [song by Neil McBeath, ca.1919]
Australia’s Flag [song by “Kookaburra”, 31 January 1919]
An Australian poet singer [review of The Passionate Heart by Mary Gilmore, 15 February 1919]
# Includes some of Mary Gilmore’s poetry.
Kookaburra’s Rhymes [poem by “Kookaburra”, 14 March 1919]
Noxious Weeds [poem by “Kookaburra”, 9 January 1920]
* Around the Boree Log and Other Verses [by John O’Brien, 1921]
Book of poetry
* A Book for Kids [by C. J. Dennis, 1921]
Book of poetry
“Goan’ ’Ave a Phenyle!” [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 23 January 1921]
[Proclaim It from the Steeple] [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 23 January 1921]
[We’ve respect for the weak and the “widdered”] [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 23 January 1921]
Delusion [poem by “Kookaburra”, 27 May 1921]
The Profiteers [poem by “Kookaburra”, 12 August 1921]
Why Poppies Are Red [poem, 11 November 1921]
A Toast to Football A Toast to Football [poem, 16 June 1922]
Wild flowers of Australia [poem by Caroline Carleton, 9 September 1922]
* Beyond the City Gates: Australian Story & Verse [by Jack Moses, 1923]
Book of poetry
Dinkum Oil [poem by “Kookaburra”, 25 May 1923]
The Mustering Day [song, 15 September 1923]
The Old Mail Coach [poem, 7 June 1924]
The Border Route [poem by Roderic Quinn, 15 January 1925]
Vale, “Crosscut”! [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 25 January 1925]
Skitlets [poem by “Kookaburra”, 24 December 1925]
* Dryblower’s Verses [by “Dryblower” Murphy, 1926]
Book of poetry
Australia Felix [poem, 8 October 1926]
Gordon’s Grave [poem by M. Robinson, 15 January 1927]
Fractures [poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 10 March 1928]
Autumn [poem, 26 May 1928]
The Death of Ben Hall [poem by William Henry Ogilvie, 20 June 1928]
Bullets and Ballots [poem by P. R. Stephensen, August 1928]
Seducer [poem by P. R. Stephensen, August 1928]
Friendship [poem, 16 August 1928]
There Be Ladies [poem, 22 November 1928]
Permanent [poem by P. R. Stephensen, December 1928]
The grief and glory of Gallipoli: Anzac poetry [by A. G. Stephens, 27 April 1929]
# An article by A. G. Stephens, including some poetry.
Brothers [poem by C. J. Dennis, 22 August 1929]
God Bless Australia [song, 5 October 1929]
We are the Youth of Australia [song, 16 January 1930]
Barak’s Requiem [poem, 13 September 1930]
“The Country’s Broke” [poem by “Kookaburra”, 24 October 1930]
Mister Lang [poem, 24 January 1931]
Here and There [poem by “Kookaburra”, 30 January 1931]
Jacaranda [poem, 11 April 1931]
The King of China’s Daughter [poem by Una Shaw, 11 April 1931]
The Lost Princess [poem by Una Shaw, 23 May 1931]
When the Niggers Own the Land [poem, 16 June 1931]
North Australia [poem, 19 June 1931]
* “I Dips Me Lid” to the Sydney Harbor Bridge [by C. J. Dennis, 1932]
A poem by C. J. Dennis, published as a booklet.
A Bushman’s Song [poem, 21 May 1932]
Diamantina Droving [poem, 24 June 1932]
On the Far Barcoo [song, 24 June 1932]
The Italian Farmer [poem, 3 September 1932]
An Australian Father Christmas [poem, 23 December 1932]
Sealed With a Kiss [poem, 21 April 1933]
Anzac Immortelles [poem by M. Robinson, 6 May 1933]
[As through the everlasting Bush] [poem, 17 May 1833]
* Collected Poems of John Shaw Neilson [by John Shaw Neilson, 1934]
Book of poetry
* Gumtops [by Rex Ingamells, 1935]
Book of poetry and prose
What “Dryblower” said: The Aliens [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 17 November 1935]
First published in The Sunday Times (8 May 1904) and in Dryblower’s Verses (1926), with some changes; this 1935 printing includes a brief editorial comment.
* Forgotten People [by Rex Ingamells, 1936]
Book of poetry
Ringing Appeal [poem, 11 April 1936]
Beyond the River [poem, 25 November 1937]
* Beauty Imposes: Some Recent Verse [by John Shaw Neilson, 1938]
Book of poetry
The Sundowner [poem by John Shaw Neilson, 1938]
Kinship [poem, 15 January 1938]
Anzacs [poem, 14 April 1938]
When New Year’s Day Comes Round [poem by “Dryblower” Murphy, 1 January 1939]
“Dryblower” [poem by Jack Sorensen, 9 March 1939]
Ned Kelly was a Gentleman [poem, 1940s]
A poem regarding Ned Kelly. Believed to have been written during the Second World War, when Australia was at war with the Japanese (1941-1945); possibly composed around the time of the battle of Milne Bay (August-September 1942).
Review and Resolve [poem, 9 April 1940]
No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest [poem by Mary Gilmore, 29 June 1940]
The late Cpl. Roberts: Poem to his children [article, and poem, 25 November 1941]
# An article about “Barney” Roberts, including his poem “To My Children”.
Thoughts [poem, 14 December 1941]
Lovers [poem by “E” (Mary Fullerton), 1942]
To a Sea Curlew [poem by John Shaw Neilson, 1942]
Advance, Australia Fair [The Worker, 24 March 1942]
Anzacs [poem, 28 April 1942]
Nationality [poem by Mary Gilmore, 12 May 1942]
Talk of the town [6 June 1942]
# Includes a very brief two-line wartime poem “He who yaps, Helps the Japs”.
[His Comrades Will Never Forget] [poem, 1943]
Waratah [poem by Marie E.J. Pitt, 1944]
Australia [poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 1945?]
The Old Slouch Hat [poem by John Barr, 6 January 1945]
Australia [poem, 29 May 1947]
Inspiration [poem by “E” (Mary Fullerton), 1946]
Australia [poem, 29 May 1947]
Brolgas [poem, 10 January 1948]
An Acrostic [poem, 16 May 1949]
An Old Mate (to G.A.U.) [poem, 26 January 1950]
Riding Once Again [poem, 18 January 1951]
Island sunset [poem, 30 August 1952]
Greenland [poem, 20 November 1953]
* The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses [by John O’Brien, 1954]
Book of poetry
Date of origin to be determined:
Our existence must we measure [poem by William Forster]
Undated:
Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]
A song/chant used by the Australian cricket team; an earlier version was used by Australian military and ex-military personnel, at least since the 1940s, and is still used by them. Its origins date back to the nineteenth century, as it is based upon a chorus from a patriotic song written in the 1890s by the Rev. Thomas Hilhouse Taylor (1861-1925).
Editor’s notes:
In their textual form, sometimes there can be little difference between poems and songs; one can be easily mistaken for the other. In classifying a work as a poem or a song, consideration has given to the context (e.g. whether the source is a collection of poems, the poetry section of a newspaper, a song sheet, or a book of music), the layout (e.g. whether the work includes a section labeled “chorus”, thus indicating a song), and if the work refers to itself as a poem or a song.
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