1. • Australia’s most famous song.
• Created in 1895 by Banjo Paterson.
• Closely Associated with the brutal 1890’s
shearers strikes.

2. 
 Unofficial Australian Anthem
 „Waltzing‟ originates in Germany and is referring to
an individual who walks the bush in search of work.
 „Matilda‟ was what the shearing workers called their
swag.
 This famous Australian Bush Ballard was created
during a period of great civil unrest with the 1890’s
Shearing Strikes.
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Waltzing Matilda

3. 
 Australia’s national economy was built on the
‘Sheep’s Back’
 Thousands’ of Australian men were itinerant
workers who would traverse the country side from
sheep station to station looking for work.
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 3
Building Australia

4. 
 1890’s a huge economic depression hit the Australian nation
and unemployment and social disadvantaged sky-rocketed.
 The property market crashed dramatically and the boom years
of the 1880’s came to a sudden end.
 The price of wool fell dramatically and farmers struggled
significantly to export any Australian goods.
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 4
1890’s Depression

5. 
 Pay rates in all sectors were significantly reduced and this led
to huge industrial disputes. (Shearing pay rates were cut by as
much as 20% causing great poverty and angst)
 Working unions became prominent during this period.
 The Shearing Strikes of the 1890’s greatly contributed to the
creation of the Australian Labor Party. (workers party)
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 5
1890’s Depression

6. 
 1891 Shearing Strikes was largely a disputed
between the union labour force and the non-union
labour (scabs).
 4 demands from the shearers:
• Continuation of existing rates of pay
• Protection of workers' rights and privileges
• Just and equitable agreements
• Exclusion of low-cost Chinese labour
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 6
Shearing Strikes

7. 
 There were many violent disputes between the unionised
labour force and the squattocracy. (Owners of the lands)
 Violent protests and the deliberate burning of shearing sheds
took place and civil unrest in rural areas was common place.
 Barcaldine, Qld, 1st May 1891, May Day march shearers striking
against poor pay and non-union work.
 The burning of the Rodney 1894. (5 Union Shearers burned
down the steam ship on the Darling river which was carrying
non-union workers to a shearing station)
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 7
Shearing Strikes

8. 
 Australia’s most famous Poet, Journalist and author.
(1864-1941)
• Clancy of the Overflow (1889) The Man from Snowy
River (1890) In Defence of the Bush (1892) The Man from
Ironbark (1892) Waltzing Matilda (1895)
• ($10 dollar note)
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 8
Banjo Paterson

9. 
 In early 1895 Paterson was visiting family friends in Winton
Qld. The Shearing Strikes were just concluding during this
turbulent period.
 Robert MacPherson owned Dagworth station and his daughter
(Christina) stole Paterson’s heart and they reportedly had a
fling. (Paterson’s Finace Sarah was present at Dagworth station
when this ‘Fling’ took place)
 (A barricaded Dagworth station and MacPherson pictured below defending the farm)
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 9
Winton Qld: Dagworth

10. 
 Dagworth station was violently attacked and burnt by striking
shearers in 1894.
 A shearer by the name Samuel Hoffmeister “reportedly”
committed suicide by a billabong when approached by the
authorities rather than surrender. (There is much rumour on
whether Hoffmeister was murdered)
 It was these events at Dagworth station and the great Shearing
Strikes which inspired Paterson to pen „Waltzing Matilda‟
 (Picture to the left is the billabong where Hoffmeister “Suicided”)
IT Services © 2009 Haileybury 10
Writing the Song