Folk music in the Australian bush | 1966 | Rare footage restored

This video exists for educational purposes. The audio, which was poor in the original footage, has been significantly restored. The film has been artificially colorized and edited. On-screen historical context and lyrics have been added.

Please turn on subtitles if you are struggling to understand the conversation at 2:30. If you are able to clarify any of the missing parts, it would be helpful to share this information in the comments.

As some people have pointed out in the comments, the lyrics at 3:23 should probably be ‘at Jackass, at sawpit, at spring gully clear’. ‘Gullies’ are apparently where gold was found.

The line at 5:48 should be ‘at the sun they take a look’.

0:00 Simon McDonald - Cockies of Bungaree (Roud 20415)
1:03 Simon McDonald - The Old Bark Hut (Roud 22662)
2:03 Lumsden family collecting Simon McDonald's songs
3:13 Simon McDonald - Gold in the Creswick Hills
3:50 Lumsden family
4:13 Elizabeth Jamieson - The Murray River Shore
5:01 Lumsden Family - Lime-Juice Tub (Roud 22605)

[TheFolkRevivalProject]

The main purpose of this channel is to conserve and share authentic recordings of all kinds of traditional music. If you support this goal and appreciate this channel's content, consider subscribing!

[carlosdownunder]

Australia has a severe problem of neglecting its history and culture. In the 70s-90s kids also grew up with amazing local sing-along songs, at school, on the radio, on cassette tapes. There were also many classic songs that adults enjoyed and not to mention the anthem that was regularly sung.

[CliftonHicksbanjo]

This reminds me of old timers in Florida, singing with the fiddle, walking down a sand road through the scrub.

[ADKMPTN]

I love the fact that real folk music is finding a home on YouTube. Thanks for all your work.

[michaelwallace]

I remember people from the 1960's - like we see in this reel. They are long gone, and sorely missed. The difference between city and bush could not have been made clearer - In the bush, people with nothing but the clothes on their backs, yet happy to be alive. They would talk about the weather to you for hours, just to be talking to someone. You still find a few stragglers from that age down here in Tasmania. It is not even 60 years, and SO much has changed. I am not sure if too many people are happier, though.

[jindialston]

Something about this makes me very emotional. It brings me back to my childhood when my Granny would teach me many songs and poems.
I hope that more of this music is found and not forgotten.

[timburary]

This is just beautiful. Good old Australia ❤

[irieneophyte]

New Zealand Maori here, loving what you're doing. Fantastic to hear these tunes, and great work to preserve these gems for future generations. Thank you

[maxwalker]

My grandfather grew up in a hut like this, he was in the navy and loved singing like this man, this video makes me so happy :)

[IDontTalkToCops]

I lived in Creswick for many years and my kids went to Primary School in town. There are still prospectors and many characters in the area. The Main Street has barely changed in 100 years.

[oldbird-zmqt]

There's something so beautiful when hearing a tune played by someone with the music in his soul, rather than from a highly-polished, ultra-trained academic folk musician under coloured lights and thousands of watts of PA power.

[maxwlytle]

That was lovely ... the simplicity of the old tunes gives them life. These remind me of some of the early American Appalachian folk music, likely the same source, old English ballads. Thank you for keeping the music alive ☺

[craigmckenzie]

This is amazing! I grew up nearby Creswick and this really is a cultural treasure, thank you so much for keeping this alive!!!

[subitopoco]

2:00 I wouldn't have expected an 'American Hotel' in Australia. It's interesting that the gold rush in Australia seems similar to that in California in that it created a culture of its own.

[Jules-]

This is a song I loved and learned in Grade 2 at Sherwood State School in Brisbane around 1955. It was called "Wattle Dear". I suppose you'd call it a "child's song". As far as I know, it was Australian.
Wattle dear has come to town, in her fluffy, golden gown.
And with silver leaves arrayed, such a pretty sight is made.
Wattle's here, wattle's here, fluffy, pretty, golden wattle's here.

Wattle dear must haste away, west wind's flower won't you stay?
And if you must go my dear, please come back another year.
Wattle's here, wattle's here, fluffy, pretty, golden wattle's here.

The teacher probably wrote the words on the blackboard, and we just listened to the piano, and sang, but I've always remembered the words. I loved Australian folk songs and knew a lot that were sung by Lionel Long. My family bought a TV set around 1960, and he was sometimes in TV shows.

[lunagoodhart]

Incredible random YouTube suggestion.
What a gem. Thankyou.

[MagpieStatesman]

I'm moved almost to tears watching this for some reason. These older folk are 20 to 30 years older than my now passed grandparents but they remind me of them a lot none the less.

[andrewread]

The old Australian accent was very unique…uniquely nice.

[davidhynd]

This was delightful, thank you. The old lady sang pretty well for a ninety year old and I thought it was lovely to see the obvious love between her and her grandson. We've made great leaps with technology, but I think we've lost something as a society 😢

[waterhousewhistler]

This video was lovely! The man singing with the old woman was such a sweet moment. Plus the power of there only being this recording as a record for some of these songs. Thanks for sharing!