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Here Be Dragons co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless - opens 13 July. Admission included with ticket to the Galleries

1001 Stories Collection

Kookaburra

1001 kookaburra dusansmetana
Added on 05th October 2020

Author Marion Sinclair
First published 1934, Melbourne, Australia

Australasia Animals
1001

The well-known Australian song about the merry king of the bush and his distinctive laugh like call.

Story

Kookaburra is a popular rhyme/ child’s song about the ‘laughing’ “Kookaburra [who] sits in the old gum tree”. The Kookaburra is the “king of the Bush”. The rhyme tells of the Kookaburra’ eating gum drops and singing out its escalating laugh of a song.

Why we chose it

It is a popular, widely known loved children’s song about one of Australia’s iconic indigenous birds which is sung all over the world.

Where it came from

It was written by Marion Sinclair, a Melbourne teacher in 1932 for a contest, ‘Girl Guides Association of Victoria’. It won the contest and was performed for the first time in 1934 at the annual Girl Guide Jamboree. It has been sung ever since.

Where it went next

It has been adopted by many Girl Guide Movements across the globe. Alternative words and lines are often sung but the tune has remained the same. Many motion cartoons have been created featuring this rhyme. It has become an eternal, around the campfire song.

Associated stories

Australian Animal Songs feature in several collections including Don Spenser and, The Wayfarers.

Added on 05th October 2020

Author Marion Sinclair
First published 1934, Melbourne, Australia

Australasia Animals
1001