In 1983, a rendition of Waltzing Matilda by Australian country-and-western singer Slim Dusty was the first song broadcast by astronauts to Earth. [1]
Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson, CBE one of Australia’s greatest bush poets, is renowned for writing the lyrics for Waltzing Matilda, often regarded as Australia’s unofficial national anthem. He died of a heart attack in Sydney on 5 February 1941.
Paterson’s early childhood was spent in the Australian outback and began work as a law clerk with a Sydney-based firm, being admitted as a solicitor in 1886. It was while a law student that he began writing poetry and adopted the nickname “The Banjo” being the name of his favourite horse.
Paterson wrote ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas of New South Wales. From 1885, his poetry was published in The Bulletin, a Sydney literary journal. His more notable poems include Clancy of the Overflow (1889) and The Man from Snowy River (1890) which was a huge success in its time selling more than 100,000 copies.
As one of Australia’s most popular writers through the 1890s, Paterson formed friendships with other significant Australian writers, including E.J. Brady, Harry “Breaker” Morant, Will H. Ogilvie. In particular, Paterson became engaged in a friendly rivalry of verse with Henry Lawson about the allure of bush life. While on holiday in Queensland late in 1895, Paterson stayed with friends at Dagworth station, near Winton. Here he wrote Waltzing Matilda which has become Australia’s best-known folk song bringing him lasting recognition.
On 8 April 1903, he married Alice Walker of Tenterfield station, and a son, and a daughter were born.
Paterson died of a heart attack in Sydney on 5 February 1941 after a fortnight’s illness. He was 76. His grave, along with that of his wife, is in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Sydney. Paterson was, in every sense, a great Australian of his time. His image appears on the Australian $10 note, along with an illustration inspired by The Man From Snowy River and, as part of the copy-protection microprint, the text of the poem itself. In 1981 he was honoured on a postage stamp issued by Australia Post, and a commemorative $1 coin was minted in 2014.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Slim Dusty: Waltzing Matilda
Jack Thompson: Clancy of the Overflow
Jack Thompson: The Man From Snowy River
Australian Dictionary of Biography: Paterson, Andrew Barton (Banjo)
Susannah Fullerton: Clancy of the Overflow
Susannah Fullerton: Banjo Paterson is born
Susannah Fullerton: Book Addict Admires a Literary Statue – Banjo Paterson