The term is said to have been derived from the nickname given to men who carried fleeces in shearing sheds, after the sound they made as they ran around. "Grubba Grubba" is also another version commonly found outback in the Kimberley.
The term's etymology is linked to the sound made by individuals carrying fleeces in shearing sheds, and it has been referred to as "Grubba Grubba" in various regions of Australia.