Character guide

Mitchell

major

Also known as Jack Mitchell, Jack Drew, Jacky, Enter Mitchell

A laconic, philosophical swagman who travels and yarns with the narrator.

Steelman

major

Also known as The Great Steelman, Steelman Steelman

A clever, manipulative conman who often partners with Smith.

The Narrator

major

Also known as Unknown, me, I, myself

The unnamed first-person observer in many stories, often a swagman or journalist.

Tom Hopkins

supporting

Also known as Long Tom Hopkins, Long Tom, Tom

A tall, slow-witted bushman featured in several comic sketches.

The Old Man

supporting

Also known as old man, The old man

A recurring elderly bush character, often a father figure or selector.

Bogan Bill

supporting

Also known as Bill, old Bill, Billy Nowlett, the Billy, Bogan

A rough, hard-drinking bushman and occasional mate of the narrator.

John Smith

supporting

Also known as Smith, Poor old Smith, Jacky, the John Smith

A gullible but good-hearted bushman, often the straight man to Steelman.

Arvie Aspinall

supporting

Also known as Arvie, little Arvie, Poor little Arvie, Billy Anderson, Arvie Bill Anderson

A poor, sickly boy working as a servant in a selection story.

Malachi Duggan

supporting

Also known as old Malachi Duggan, Malachi

An old Irish selector with a tragic past, central to his own story.

Macquarie

supporting

Also known as Macquarie⁠

A hard-drinking bushman who features in several yarns.

Baldy Thompson

supporting

Also known as old Baldy Thompson, Baldy, Thompson, Rough

A bald, comic bush character known for his tall tales.

Stiffner

supporting

Also known as This Stiffner

A sly, dishonest publican and shearer.

Tom Brook

supporting

Also known as Brook, Tom

A shearer and mate of the narrator in several stories.

The Stranger

minor

Also known as stranger, The stranger

An enigmatic figure who appears in various campfire yarns.

Mrs. Aspinall

minor

Also known as Mrs. Aspinall

The hard-working mother of Arvie Aspinall.

Tom Mason

minor

Also known as Mason, Tommy, Presently Tommy

A young boy in a bush school story.

Jim Brown

minor

Also known as Brown, poor Brown, Jim

A shearer and mate, often in trouble.

Brummy Usen

minor

Also known as Brummy, This Brummy, the real Brummy

A boastful, comic bushman with a thick accent.

Jim Smith

minor

Also known as James Smith, Jim, Smith

A shearer and occasional mate of the narrator.

Tom Marshall

minor

Also known as Tommy, Tom

A shearer known for his singing voice.

Five Bob

minor

Also known as Bob, Bobbie, nine bob

A dog owned by a bushman, featured in a story.

Jimmy Nowlett

minor

Also known as Jim, old Jimmy Nowlett, James, old Jim

A bullock-driver and bush character.

Mother Brock

minor

Also known as Mother, Brock

An old bush woman who keeps a shanty.

Queen Elizabeth

minor

Also known as Lizzie

A barmaid or barmaid-like figure in a pub.

Alligator

minor

A dog belonging to a drover's wife.

Dave

minor

A shearer and mate of the narrator.

Mary

minor

Also known as Poor Mary, Black Mary

An Aboriginal woman or a servant in a story.

Bogg

minor

Also known as Presently Bogg

A comic selector and neighbor.

Adelaide Adolphus

minor

Also known as Corney George, Corney, Geordie

A miner mentioned in a yarn about lost mates.

Mr. James Mitchell

minor

Also known as Mitchell

A station owner or boss.

Chinny

minor

A bush character with a distinctive chin.

Barcoo

minor

A dog or a bushman from the Barcoo region.

Sally Thompson

minor

Also known as Sally, Thompson

A woman in a bush courtship story.

Lally Thompson

minor

Also known as Thompson

A young woman in a bush story.

Sunlight

minor

Also known as Sunlight ”

A racehorse or a dog mentioned in a yarn.

Servant Girl

minor

Also known as a very good - looking servant girl waitin ’ on ’em

A pretty servant in a boarding house story.

The Doctor

minor

Also known as doctor, The doctor

A bush doctor who appears in several stories.

Little Isley Mason

minor

Also known as Isley

A young boy in a bush school story.

Jacob

minor

An old bushman or station hand.

Curry

minor

Also known as Poor old Curry

A shearer or bush worker.

Old Rats

minor

Also known as Rats

A bush character with a nickname.

His Master

minor

Also known as master, his master

A station owner or employer in a dog story.

Joe Swallow

minor

Also known as Joe, young Joe Swallow

A young shearer or bushman.

Pat Martin

minor

Also known as Pat, Paddy Somebody, Paddy

An Irish bushman and mate.

Ben Hake

minor

Also known as Hake, Old Ben Hake, young Hake, Benjamin

A bushman and father of a family.

The Man Who Forgot

minor

A man who loses his memory and wanders the bush.

Tom Moonlight

minor

Also known as Tom

A shearer or bush character.

The Oracle

minor

Also known as Oracle

A know-it-all bush character.

The Doctors

minor

Also known as doctors, The doctors

A group of doctors in a story.

Father

minor

A father figure in a bush story.

Jones

minor

A publican or character in a pub story.

Isley

minor

Also known as Isley!, Presently Isley

A young boy in a bush school story.

The Master

minor

Also known as master, The master

A station owner or employer.

Scotty

minor

Also known as old Scotty, young Scotty

A Scottish bushman.

Mr. Stoneleigh

minor

A station owner or gentleman.

Box

minor

A dog or a bushman.

Selector

minor

A generic selector character.

Steely

minor

A bush character, possibly a shearer.

Bricky

minor

Also known as Bricky ”

A bushman with a nickname.

James Tyson

minor

Also known as Tyson, Jim, James John Tyson

A wealthy pastoralist mentioned in a story.

The Moa

minor

A racehorse or a dog.

Milky

minor

A dog or a bushman.

Old Awful Example

minor

Also known as Awful Example, Awful

A cautionary tale character.

Mrs. Brown

minor

Also known as Brown

A woman in a bush story.

Mason's

minor

Also known as Mason’s

A family or place name.

Rice

minor

A bush character.

Isaacs

minor

A Jewish bushman or storekeeper.

Mrs. A.

minor

Also known as Poor Mrs. A.

A woman in a boarding house story.

Missus

minor

A generic wife or landlady.

Tally

minor

A dog or a bushman.

The Exception

minor

A character in a philosophical yarn.

Janet Wild

minor

A woman in a bush story.

Mr. B.

minor

Also known as Poor old Mr. B., So poor old Mr. B.

A comic character in a boarding house.

Garn

minor

A bushman's exclamation or nickname.

Mrs. Next-door

minor

A neighbor in a domestic story.

Auld Lang Syne

minor

A character or a pub name.