Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled:
“Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda, with me?”

~ Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson

This photo taken in the 1930’s shows a Swaggie.  Swaggies had to move from town to town for work. They would travel foot from one farm to the next farm carrying their swag. Their swag was their bedroll which they carried over their shoulder. They also usually had a tucker bag which was used to carry food, a billy can and other cooking implements.   They would sleep under Coolibah trees.

Gloria