BANJO


Banjo Paterson The Bard of the Bush

Born Andrew Barton Paterson in 1864 near Narrambla, NSW (New South Wales), Banjo (a nickname inspired by his favourite horse) would go on to become a literary legend. The Man from Snowy River was published 26 April 1890, and gives an insightful and sometimes funny perspective of 19th century Australia.


"And he ran them single-handed till their sides were white with foam.

    He followed like a bloodhound on their track,

   Till they halted cowed and beaten, then he turned their heads for home".


The Man from Snowy River is a story, of attempts to retrieve the colt of Old Regret, a race bred colt. Sired by Old Regret, a 1000 pound horse, he had got away and joined the wild bush horses, and escaped into the NSW and Victorian alpine regions. A reward was issued to entice the best riders who might stand a chance of surviving a tangle with a mob of wild horses in the Australian Alpines.

Growing up in rural New South Wales, young Banjo was no stranger to the sights, sounds, and grit of the Australian bush.  This firsthand experience would become the lifeblood of his writing.  While he dabbled in law for a while, it was the world of words that truly called to him.


Paterson's poems, particularly his bush ballads, became a national sensation.  His characters, like the legendary "Man from Snowy River," embodied the spirit of the outback, tough, resourceful, and fiercely independent.  Poems like "Clancy of the Overflow" and the now-iconic "Waltzing Matilda" (unofficially considered Australia's national anthem) painted vivid pictures of life on the land, its challenges, and its unique beauty.


Banjo Paterson wasn't just a successful writer he was a cultural icon.  His work wasn't confined to dusty shelves, it resonated with everyday Australians.  His poems captured the essence of the bush, its folklore, and the resilience of its people.  They became a cornerstone of Australian identity, a way for people to connect with their land and their heritage.


Even today, Banjo Paterson's legacy lives on.  His poems are still studied in schools, recited at national events, and enjoyed by people of all ages.  He wasn't just a writer, he was a bard, a storyteller who gave voice to the heart and soul of Australia.

The Man from Snowy River and other Verses