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swagmen

The Lonely Crossing [poem by Louisa Lawson]

12 August 2023 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This poem by Louisa Lawson was published in “The Lonely Crossing” and Other Poems (1905).] The Lonely Crossing. A man on foot came down to the river, A silent man, on the road alone, And dropped his swag with a chill-born shiver, And sat to rest on a wind-worn … [Read more...] about The Lonely Crossing [poem by Louisa Lawson]

Filed Under: poetry Tagged With: 500x500, Louisa Lawson (1848-1920) (author), poem, SourceSLNSW, swagmen, The Lonely Crossing and Other Poems (Louisa Lawson 1905), year1905

Found Dead [poem by R. G. S. (John Neilson, senior), 28 September 1878]

16 July 2023 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This poem by “R.G.S.” — a pseudonym of John Neilson (1844-1922) — was published in The Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), 28 September 1878.] Found Dead. (Composed on the remains lately found in the forest at Nangwarry.) A little aside from the sandy road, By … [Read more...] about Found Dead [poem by R. G. S. (John Neilson, senior), 28 September 1878]

Filed Under: poetry Tagged With: 500x500, John Neilson (1844-1922) (author), poem, R.G.S. of Penola (author), SourceTrove, swagmen, year1878

Poppy Day: Benefit of Diggers [11 November 1932]

11 November 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This article about Poppy Day (Armistice Day; later known as Remembrance Day), was published in The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.), 11 November 1932.] Poppy Day Benefit of Diggers To those of riper years in whose memory is still fresh the horrors of the … [Read more...] about Poppy Day: Benefit of Diggers [11 November 1932]

Filed Under: articles Tagged With: 500x500, Armistice Day, Poppy Day, Remembrance Day, SourceTrove, swagmen, the Great Depression (1929-1939), year1932

The Old Bark Hut [folk music, videos]

21 March 2022 · Leave a Comment

Australian Folk Songs

“The Old Bark Hut” is an Australian folk song, which is part of Australia’s folk music tradition. The lyrics were included in Banjo Paterson’s collection, The Old Bush Songs (1905). The Hawking Brothers - The Old Bark Hut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMqdCWUUZV4 Ron … [Read more...] about The Old Bark Hut [folk music, videos]

Filed Under: songs Tagged With: 500x500, folk music, folk music videos, folk songs, shepherds, swagmen

With My Swag All On My Shoulder [song]

19 March 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This song was published in Old Bush Songs: Composed and Sung in the Bushranging, Digging, and Overlanding Days (8th edition, 1932), edited by Banjo Paterson.] With My Swag All On My Shoulder When first I left Old England’s shore, Such yarns as we were told, As … [Read more...] about With My Swag All On My Shoulder [song]

Filed Under: songs Tagged With: 500x500, Old Bush Songs (Banjo Paterson 1932), song, SourceTrove, swagmen, year1932

Hang the Man Who Works [song]

19 March 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This song was published in Old Bush Songs: Composed and Sung in the Bushranging, Digging, and Overlanding Days (8th edition, 1932), edited by Banjo Paterson.] Hang the Man Who Works Come listen to my ditty, come listen to me hum, While I relate a verse or two of … [Read more...] about Hang the Man Who Works [song]

Filed Under: songs Tagged With: 500x500, Old Bush Songs (Banjo Paterson 1932), song, SourceTrove, swagmen, year1932

[In reply to remarks of “Warrigal Jack” on “The Mythical Sundowner”] [by The Big Irishman, 19 October 1889]

24 January 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This untitled letter to the editor was published in The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 19 October 1889. It was written in reply to a letter written by “Warrigal Jack” (Joseph Furphy) which appeared in The Bulletin on 5 October 1889.] [In reply to remarks of “Warrigal Jack” … [Read more...] about [In reply to remarks of “Warrigal Jack” on “The Mythical Sundowner”] [by The Big Irishman, 19 October 1889]

Filed Under: letters to the editor Tagged With: letters to the editor, publication The Bulletin (Sydney NSW), SourceTrove, swagmen, year1889

“The Mythical Sundowner” [by Warrigal Jack (Joseph Furphy), 5 October 1889]

24 January 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This letter to the editor from “Warrigal Jack” (Joseph Furphy) was published in The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 5 October 1889. It was written in reply to an article which appeared in The Bulletin on 14 September 1889.] “The Mythical Sundowner.” Dear Bulletin, — I … [Read more...] about “The Mythical Sundowner” [by Warrigal Jack (Joseph Furphy), 5 October 1889]

Filed Under: letters to the editor Tagged With: Joseph Furphy (1843-1912) (author), letters to the editor, publication The Bulletin (Sydney NSW), SourceTrove, swagmen, year1889

The Mythical Sundowner [The Bulletin, 14 September 1889]

24 January 2022 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: This article was published in The Bulletin (Sydney, NSW), 14 September 1889. A reply to this article was written by “Warrigal Jack” (Joseph Furphy) and published in The Bulletin on 5 October 1889.] The Mythical Sundowner. (For The Bulletin.) In 1887 a paper on … [Read more...] about The Mythical Sundowner [The Bulletin, 14 September 1889]

Filed Under: articles Tagged With: publication The Bulletin (Sydney NSW), SourceTrove, swagmen, year1889

The “Sundowner” [by Gladys Johns, 4 April 1935]

31 December 2015 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: Published in The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 April 1935.] The “Sundowner.” When I first saw him he was loitering in the shade of an old gum tree — his swag, his billy, and his dog. As I passed, I nodded in the friendly bush fashion. “Good-day,” he said. “Kind … [Read more...] about The “Sundowner” [by Gladys Johns, 4 April 1935]

Filed Under: short stories and anecdotes Tagged With: anecdotes, Gladys Johns, SourceTrove, swagmen, year1935

The Swagman [poem, 25 July 1868]

22 July 2015 · Leave a Comment

[Editor: A poem published in The Mining Record and Grenfell General Advertiser, 25 July 1868.] The Swagman. Trudging on wearily, heavily, drearily, Parching with thirst on a hot dusty road; No one to speak a kind word to him cheerily, No one to love him, no place of … [Read more...] about The Swagman [poem, 25 July 1868]

Filed Under: poetry Tagged With: poem, SourceTrove, swagmen, year1868

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The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses, by Banjo Paterson A Book for Kids, by C. J. Dennis  The Bulletin Reciter: A Collection of Verses for Recitation from The Bulletin The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, by C. J. Dennis The Complete Inner History of the Kelly Gang and Their Pursuers, by J. J. Kenneally The Foundations of Culture in Australia, by P. R. Stephensen The Australian Crisis, by C. H. Kirmess Such Is Life, by Joseph Furphy
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Advance Australia Fair: How the song became the Australian national anthem
Brian Cadd [music videos and biography]
Ned Kelly: Australian bushranger
Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]

Some Australian authors

Barcroft Boake
E. J. Brady
John Le Gay Brereton
C. J. Dennis
Mary Hannay Foott
Joseph Furphy
Mary Gilmore
Charles Harpur
Grant Hervey
Lucy Everett Homfray
Rex Ingamells
Henry Kendall
“Kookaburra”
Henry Lawson
Jack Moses
“Dryblower” Murphy
John Shaw Neilson
John O’Brien (Patrick Joseph Hartigan)
“Banjo” Paterson
Marie E. J. Pitt
A. G. Stephens
P. R. Stephensen
Agnes L. Storrie (Agnes L. Kettlewell)

Recent Posts

  • Danger in the Bush [poem re drop bears, 17 September 1891]
  • Armistice [by G. J. Hill, 1 December 1930]
  • Gold in possession: Beaufort man involved: City court convicts: Notice of appeal [20 April 1916]
  • Died on Active Service / Heroes of the Empire [Australian military personnel (WW1, WW2), 24 April 1943]
  • Flooded house on Villiers Street, Grafton (NSW) [postcard, circa 1950]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Australian slang, words, and phrases
  • The Man from Snowy River [poem by Banjo Paterson]
  • The Man from Ironbark [poem by Banjo Paterson]
  • The drover’s wife [by Henry Lawson]
  • The Bastard from the Bush [bawdy poem, circa 1900]

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Posts of note

The Bastard from the Bush [poem, circa 1900]
A Book for Kids [by C. J. Dennis, 1921]
Click Go the Shears [traditional Australian song, 1890s]
Core of My Heart [“My Country”, poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 24 October 1908]
Freedom on the Wallaby [poem by Henry Lawson, 16 May 1891]
The Man from Ironbark [poem by Banjo Paterson]
Nationality [poem by Mary Gilmore, 12 May 1942]
The Newcastle song [music video, sung by Bob Hudson]
No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest [poem by Mary Gilmore, 29 June 1940]
Our pipes [short story by Henry Lawson]
Rommel’s comments on Australian soldiers [1941-1942]
Shooting the moon [short story by Henry Lawson]

Recent Comments

  • DESMOND Fell on The tragic note in Australian literature [book review, 15 June 1946]
  • David Spackman on Chapter 1 [The Complete Inner History of the Kelly Gang and Their Pursuers, by J. J. Kenneally]
  • Greg Kilmartin on Aussie Verse and Verse-Writers: 1. Banjo Paterson [16 February 1918]
  • Nick on The Sliprails and the Spur [poem by Henry Lawson]
  • Hayden Giles on Drop Bears

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