Australian country music link Australia's vast distances. Isolation and loneliness of life in the Australian bush has been another theme. For much of its history, Australia's bush music belonged to an oral and folkloric tradition, and was only later published in print in volumes such as Banjo Paterson's "Old Bush Songs", in the 1890s. Waltzing Matilda, often regarded as Australia's unofficial National anthem, is a quintessential early Australian country song, influenced more by Celtic folk ballads than by American Country and Western music. The lyrics were composed by the poet Banjo Paterson in 1895. This strain of Australian country music, with lyrics focusing
Waltzing Matilda (film) engagement and Chic sets off alone as a swagman, accompanied by a chorus of 'Waltzing Matilda'. Pat Hanna held a competition for the name of the film. A prize of ₤10 was shared amongst the 20 people who suggested "Waltzing Matilda". The character of Chic William was well established on stage and in Pat Hanna's previous movies but changed for this film- he is poor, drinking heavily and drifting from job to job. The movie was shot at Efftee Studios in Melbourne in mid 1933. The romantic male lead, Norman French, was a casting director for Efftee and Hanna. The