Paterson, Banjo (Andrew Barton) (1864–1941)

Australian journalist and folk poet. Early acquaintance with drovers, squatters, and even bushrangers in New South Wales gave him material for his collection The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses 1895. He elaborated a horsily Arcadian myth of Australian life and published novels and travel sketches, but is best known for the song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ which he wrote about 1895 and performed to the Scots melody ‘Craigielee’.