Benjamin Lindner told us how he came to write Waltzing Matilda ─ Australia’s Accidental Anthem, a forensic history of the events, the people and the places that led to the writing of Australia’s internationally famous song. He filtered through the evidence to dispel many of the myths and historical inaccuracies that have become folklore.
Banjo Paterson visited Dagworth Station, north of Winton, Queensland, where he was fascinated by the scenery and the jargon of local tales and legends. His fiancée of seven years, Sarah Riley, introduced him to her friend Christina Macpherson, and in 1895 Paterson and Christina put the words about a swagman and a variation of the air “The Bonny Woods of Craigielea” together to produce “Waltzing Matilda”.
However Paterson thought so little about the song that he sold it to the Billy Tea Company for five pounds. Christina Macpherson later sued Paterson for half of that money, and his engagement with Sarah Riley was broken off.
Benjamin was only warming up with stories about his waistcoat and oth
er tales behind the song, when the meeting ran out of time.
er tales behind the song, when the meeting ran out of time. Any questions? We encourage you to read the book!
Waltzing Matilda - Australia's Accidental Anthem
By: W. Benjamin Lindner, Foreword by Geoffrey Blainey
Published: 14th February 2019
W. Benjamin Lindner is a criminal barrister who has appeared for the defence of those charged with terrorism offences, murder, drugs, sex, those who play rock and roll and asylum seekers on Nauru. His practice has extended from working in Alice Springs for the Aboriginal Legal Service to teaching advocacy to lawyers in Samoa, New Guinea, Bangladesh and at the Victorian Bar Reader's Course.