Born on 17 February, 1864, at Narambla, New South Wales, not far from Orange, Andrew Barton Paterson was the son of a Scottish immigrant from Lanarkshire, who had arrived in Australia in the early 1850s.

Poet, journalist, lawyer, jockey, soldier, farmer – Banjo Paterson became one of Australian well loved literary figures whose works include:

to name but a few. He reported on the Boer War, and he served in and reported on World War I. He also wrote some prose, which makes lively reading. To see a list of other poems and prose you can visit the link below. There you will find information on his life and times, as well as links to other related sites.

Andrew Barton Paterson died on the 5 February 1941, Sydney.
Died: 5 February 1941, Sydney
Full name: Andrew Barton Paterson

Most of Paterson’s works were published during his lifetime, and are consequently now out of copyright. Those unpublished until 1983, when they appeared in Singer of the Bush and Song of the Pen, are not yet out of copyright.

Copyright constraints in Australia normally allow free use of works published during the lifetime of the author only after fifty years have expired since the author’s death. Different rules hold in the USA, and copyright can exist in such materials until 75 years after the death of the author. Re-edited works (i.e. works with textual amendment) gain independent copyright protection dating from the publication of the re-edited version.

Footnote & References

  1. Public Domain Poetry – Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton), https://www.public-domain-poetry.com/banjo-paterson-andrew-barton
  2. The Man from Snowy River Bush Festival, http://www.manfromsnowyriverbushfestival.com.au/
  3. Search Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson, National Library of Australia, https://www.nla.gov.au/search?keys=Andrew+Barton+%28Banjo%29+Paterson
  4. Perry Middlemiss, A site that includes a category for literature, http://www.middlemiss.org/lit/lit.html#authors