Historical information

This book, written by Matthew Richardson, gives details of the song ‘Waltzing Matilda’. This song is the most famous and best-loved song in Australia and its origins start in Warrnambool. In 1894 Christina McPherson heard an old folk song played by the local Garrison Artillery Band at the Warrnambool races and later in Queensland she played the tune to Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson who wrote the words to the music.

Significance

This book is retained as it gives details of the song ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Warrnambool has the claim to fame of being the place where this well-known Australian song began.

Physical description

This is a hard cover book of 23 pages. The cover is red with white printing on the spine. The dust cover has a pale green background with a sepia-coloured image of a swagman and black and red printing. The book contains a CD in a plastic covering inserted into the front dust cover. The book has a preface, 14 chapters of text, some illustrations, appendices, a bibliography, acknowledgements and an index.