Photograph of a swagman circa 1901

A swagman is an old Australian term describing an underclass of transient temporary workers, who traveled by foot from farm to farm carrying the traditional swag. Also characteristic of swagman attire was a hat strung with corks to ward off flies. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 436 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1274 × 1753 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Note: Picture scanned from the book Australias Yesterdays (1974) - According to Australian copyright law, all photos taken before 1955 are in the... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 436 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1274 × 1753 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Note: Picture scanned from the book Australias Yesterdays (1974) - According to Australian copyright law, all photos taken before 1955 are in the... This article is about the swag of Australian history and culture. ... A cork hat is a type of headgear with cork strung from the brim, to ward off insects. ...

Particularly during the depression of the 1890s and the Great Depression of the 1930s (though, in much of Australia, the 1890s depression was far worse), unemployed (mostly single) men travelled the rural areas of Australia on foot, their few meagre possessions rolled up and carried in their swag. Typically, they would seek work in farms and towns they travelled through, and in many cases the farmers, if no permanent work was available, would provide food and shelter in return for some menial task. 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... The Great Depression was a worldwide economic downturn which started in October of 1929 and lasted through most of the 1930s. ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ...

Before motor transport became common, the Australian wool industry was heavily dependent on itinerant shearers who carried their swags from farm to farm (called in Australia sheep stations), but would not in general have taken kindly to being called 'swagmen'. Outside of the shearing season their existence was frugal, and this possibly explains the tradition (of past years) of sheep stations in particular providing enough food to last until the next station even when no work was available. A romanticised figure, the swagman remains famous through the song "Waltzing Matilda", by Banjo Paterson, which details a swagman who turns to stealing a sheep from the local squatter. Shear is a form of structural failure. ... Waltzing Matilda is usually sung in informal settings, but it was played with a 90 piece orchestra and the 100 voice Melbourne Chorale at the 2005 Classical Spectacular Waltzing Matilda is Australias most widely known folk song, and one that has been popularly suggested as a potential national anthem... Andrew Barton Banjo Paterson (February 17, 1864 – February 5, 1941) was a famous Australian bush poet, journalist and author. ... This article is about occupying land without permission. ...

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