Australian swagmen
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: History of Oceania, South-East Asia and Pacific
Forum Discription: Discuss the history of SE Asia: Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore etc.
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29697
Printed Date: 24-Apr-2024 at 03:55
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Australian swagmen
Posted By: Nick1986
Subject: Australian swagmen
Date Posted: 01-Jun-2011 at 20:53
In addition to bushrangers the Aussies have their own hobo: the swagman made famous in Banjo Patterson's song Waltzing Matilda. The swagman, usually accompanied by his dog, traveled from farm to farm with a pack on his back containing his bedroll, billycan and sometimes a tent. Some had a mule or packhorse to carry their tools for shoeing horses, gold panning or repairing bores. Like the hobo the swagman did seasonal work to support himself, often shearing sheep or rounding up cattle, but was not above stealing the odd jumbuck to fill his tuckerbag ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Replies:
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 02-Jun-2011 at 19:18
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"Matilda" was the swagman's backpack: often his only companion. To go a-waltzing Matilda meant living the nomadic life of the hobo. ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: unclefred
Date Posted: 03-Jun-2011 at 00:37
| Our future, perhaps. |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 03-Jun-2011 at 21:06
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Possibly. The number of swagmen did increase during the Depression as farm workers hopped on freight trains in search of work ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 02-Aug-2011 at 20:32
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When foraging for food the swagman would take a sack with him known as a "tucker-bag." Nuts, fruit, roots, leaves, mushrooms, insects, Witchetty grubs, and the odd jumbuck, lizard, emu or boomer could be stuffed into this sack and eaten later on. ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 03-Aug-2011 at 21:22
The Aborigines have long considered these grubs a delicacy. They have a rich almond flavor and are usually fried until crispy ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 10-Aug-2011 at 20:06
Australia's national dress, the cork hat, was invented by these swagmen. The corks, suspended from strings, kept biting insects away from the face ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 30-Sep-2011 at 20:45
The swagman's billycan was originally a tin can with a wire handle. This was easy to make and could be used as a cup, kettle or saucepan ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 12-Oct-2011 at 21:13
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A swagman could also be a gold prospector. In the 1850s many left their hometown for the outback. Like the Westerners, they lived in vast "tent cities" and panned for gold in the nearby river. Although some found gold, most were unsuccessful and instead settled the vast tracts of land and became farmers ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 18-Feb-2012 at 19:10
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http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=a4pGAQAAIAAJ&dq=swagman&pg=PA177#v=onepage&q&f=false - Australian Journal
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 19-Feb-2012 at 19:07
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The tin can stove was used by these intrepid hobos when wood for an open fire was scarce. By making holes in the bottom of the can and turning it to face the wind, you can save a lot of fuel and boil the billycan or skillet much faster
------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 27-Apr-2012 at 19:45
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The farmer's magazine: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5XePJmT0I2cC&dq=swagman&pg=PA490#v=onepage&q&f=false - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5XePJmT0I2cC&dq=swagman&pg=PA490#v=onepage&q&f=false ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: Nick1986
Date Posted: 13-Aug-2012 at 19:31
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This website has many books and images of swagmen http://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=subject%3ASwagmen+-+Australia.%20 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=subject%3A%22Swagmen+-+Australia.%22 ------------- Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains! |
Posted By: toyomotor
Date Posted: 03-Jan-2014 at 12:57
Give us a break! Swagmen weren't Aboriginals, his tuckerbag would more likely contain his billy, tobacco and whatever food, like Damper for instance, he might have. They weren't much into "Bush Tucker". |