The song narrates the story of an itinerant worker, or "swagman", boiling a billy at a bush camp and capturing a stray jumbuck (sheep) to eat. When the jumbuck's owner, a squatter (grazier), …

Feb 8, 2025 · Every traveller has a pannikin or two and one or two billies. Some have three—of varying sizes to fit one in the other. The tea-billy and meat-billy are the most common; the third …

A billycan is an Australian term for a lightweight cooking pot in the form of a metal bucket [1] [2] [3] commonly used for boiling water, making tea/coffee or cooking over a campfire [4] or to carry …

Nov 23, 2014 · The bush men and women valued mate-ship and a boiling billy was an invitation for a passing swagman to join and share hot billy tea. Billy tea was strong and usually served …

The story unfolds around a wandering worker, referred to as a “swagman,” who finds himself brewing a billy at a bush camp. Men drinking billy tea c1911 from the collections of the State …

Apr 2, 2025 · To promote its tea, the Billy Tea Company featured a swagman (or ‘swaggie’) boiling his billy on its packaging. In the early 20th century, James Inglis, the owner of Billy Tea, …

Yes, there really was a brand called Billy Tea. And what a great advertisement. The company was established by James Inglis in the 1880s. We are an increasingly urbanised society, but the …

Mar 8, 2025 · Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most famous folk song, telling the tale of a swagman (a travelling labourer) who steals a sheep (jumbuck) and is pursued by the landowner …

Jan 16, 2014 · So, what did the man boil in his billy? Billabong water, of course! And, naturally, he threw in some tea leaves from his “tucker bag” (the bag that held his food stuffs) and let them …

Aug 14, 2023 · Traditionally at this stage the burly swagman would swing it three times in a wide circle to the side of their body before letting it sit for a couple more minutes. The swinging is to …