Wallaby

ON THE WALLABY (or WALLABY-TRACK), phr. (Australian).—Tramping the country on foot looking for work. [MORRIS: WALLABY = a small kangaroo. Often in the bush the only perceptible tracks, and sometimes the only tracks by which the scrub can be penetrated, are the tracks worn down by the WALLABY, as a hare tramples its ‘form.’ These tracks may lead to water or they may be aimless and rambling. Thus the man ON THE WALLABY may be looking for food or for work, or aimlessly wandering by day and getting food and shelter as a SUNDOWNER (q.v.) at night.]

  1869.  M. A. H. CLARKE, The Peripatetic Philosopher (Reprint), 41. The Wimmera district is noted for the hordes of vagabond ‘loafers’ that it supports, and has earned for itself the name of ‘The Feeding Track.’ I remember an old bush ditty, which I have heard sung when I was ON THE WALLABY.… At the station where I worked for some time (as ‘knock-about man’) three cooks were kept during the WALLABY season—one for the house, one for the men, and one for the travellers.

  1890.  BOLDREWOOD, A Colonial Reformer, 82. ‘What is the meaning of OUT ON THE WALLABY?’ asked Ernest. ‘Well, it’s bush slang, sir, for men just as you or I might be now, looking for work or something to eat; if we can’t get work, living on the country, till things turn round a little.’

  1893.  GILBERT PARKER, Pierre and His People, 242. The WALLABY TRACK? That’s the name in Australia for trampin’ west, through the plains of the Never Never Country lookin’ for the luck o’ the world.

  1894.  LONGMANS, Notes on Books (31 May), 206. ‘ON THE WALLABY: a Book of Travel and Adventure.’

  1894.  J. CARMICHAEL [Australasian, 22 Dec., 1127. 5], ‘A Wallaby Christmastide.’

  1896.  H. LAWSON, When the World was Wide. 134, ‘Corny Bill.’