What is the meaning of the folk song Australia's on the Wallaby?

Answer 1

"Australia's On the Wallaby" is an unusual folk song full of Australian idioms.

On the Wallaby is short for "on the wallaby track". It means one is out wandering the bush and outback of Australia, and not necessarily with any particular destination in mind.

In the folk song "Australia's On the Wallaby", numerous native animals and characters f the outback are described in different ways as packing up and heading out "on the wallaby".

For example, the lines "For the kangaroo he rolls his swag, And the emu shoulders bluey" are two different ways of describing packing up one's belongings ready to hit the road.