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Origins

Banjo Paterson has long been considered the creator of the lyrics of ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Some commentators believed he adapted the words from an existing bush ballad. However, researchers now agree that Banjo wrote original song lyrics in 1895 – a ‘new bush song’ –  whilst staying with the Macpherson family on the property, Dagworth Station, approximately 100 kilometres north-west of the town of Winton in Queensland.

The origins of the melody are more complex and have been subject to much debate. The existence of an original musical manuscript by Christina Macpherson came to public notice in 1971, together with an undated letter by Christina to Thomas Wood recalling the events surrounding the creation of the song. This led to Christina being accredited as the first ‘creator’ of the music. Two versions of this mansucript are now held  in the National Library of Australia: MS9065 and MS10086. Yet, as Christina openly acknowledged, she adapted the tune from an existing folk song which she had heard played as a march by a brass band. This website summarises the origins of the song and the multiple musical versions that exist in unpublished, published and oral forms. 

The creation >

 

Christina Macpherson's letter to Thomas Wood

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