Waltzing Matilda : History

http://www.waltzingmatilda.org/

The history of Waltzing Matilda dates back to 1895. Banjo Paterson, who was an Australian poet, wrote the words of the song. The music was written by Christina Macpherson. According to history, Banjo Paterson wrote the words to the song at the Dagworth Homestead in Queensland. He apparently heard Christina Macpherson playing a tune on a zither and decided to put lyrics to the tune. Christina Macpherson heard the tune from a band at the Races by Warnambool. The tune that she heard sounded like it was based from a Scottish song entitled “Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigielea”. 

Banjo Paterson was a friend of Christina Macpherson’s brother, Bob. He was visiting the Macpherson family when he wrote the words to the Waltzing Matilda. During his stay with the Macpherson’s, he and Christina will collaborate on the song; he will write words and Christina will try it with the tune. Eventually, everyone in the District caught the song and was singing it.