A(ndrew) B(arton) Paterson - Biography, Works, Legacy, A Selected List of Banjo Paterson's Works, Sources
Journalist and poet, born at Narambla, New South Wales, SE Australia. He lived at Illalong station until he was 10, when he went to school in Sydney, and later contributed some early verse to the Sydney Bulletin. A World War 2 correspondent, he wrote several books of light verse, including The Man From Snowy River and Other Verses (1895), and The Animals Noah Forgot (1933). He is probably best known for Waltzing Matilda (1895), adapted from a traditional ditty, which became very popular in Australia.
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson (February 17, 1864 - February 5, 1941) was a famous Australian bush poet, journalist and author. Paterson's more notable poems include "Waltzing Matilda", "The Man From Snowy River", "Geebung Polo Club" and "Clancy of the Overflow".
Biography
Paterson was born at Narambla, near Orange, New South Wales, the eldest son of a Scottish immigrant from Lanarkshire on February 17, 1864. When Paterson turned 10 he was sent to school at Sydney Grammar School, performing well both as a student and a sportsman.
In 1885, Paterson began submitting and having his poetry published in the Sydney edition of The Bulletin under the pseudonym of "The Banjo", the name of a favourite horse. Paterson, like The Bulletin, was an ardent nationalist, and in 1889 published a pamphlet, Australia for the Australians which told of his disdain for cheap labour and his admiration of hard work and the nationalist spirit. Banjo Paterson also became a journalist, lawyer, jockey, soldier and a farmer.
Works
One of his most famous poems is "Waltzing Matilda", which was set to music and became one of Australia's most famous songs.
Paterson's poems mostly presented a highly romantic view of rural Australia. His work is often compared to the prose of Henry Lawson, a contemporary of Paterson's, including his work "The Drover's Wife", which presented a considerably less romantic view of the harshness of rural existence of the late 19th century.
Paterson authored two novels;
Legacy
Banjo Paterson's image appears on the (AUD - Australian Dollar) $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.
Banjo Paterson's works are musically featured in a number of albums by the Australian group, Wallis and Matilda. Paterson College, at Arundel on the Gold Coast, Australia, is named after Banjo Paterson.
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