This Saturday is the 160th birthday of Australia’s favourite poet and everyone’s invited!

It was on February 17, 1864, that Andrew Barton Paterson, better known to all as “Banjo” was born on the property “Narrambla” to the north of Orange.

A poet, journalist, author, and war correspondent, Banjo’s pen produced some of the most recognisable poems and ballads in Australia, such as "Clancy of the Overflow", "The Man from Snowy River" and "Waltzing Matilda."

To celebrate the 160th anniversary of his birth the Friends of the Banjo Paterson Park are planning a big birthday this Saturday.

Banjo’s 160th Birthday Party will be held, appropriately, at the site of the old “Narrambla” homestead on Ophir Road, now known as Banjo Paterson Park.

“We’re doing a few different things this year as it’s the 160th,” says local historian and Friends of the Banjo Paterson Park president, Elizabeth Griffin.

“We've got a birthday cake, of course, and I've organised for a couple of past Australian bush poetry champions to to be involved in the way of Robyn Sykes and Greg North.

“The Canobolas Pipe Band will be coming out to play for us… and we've got some games organised and we're trying to get the kids interested which is why we've got a merry-go-round and a miniature train that will be giving free rides for the kids — it should be a bit of fun.”

The celebrations will get underway from 11.30am on Saturday, with people invited to bring out a picnic or purchase a bite to eat from the barbecue.

“We'll be starting the barbecues at 11.30 and and we'll be having games for the kids and then the band will be coming on at 1.30pm,” says Elizabeth. “At 2pm we will be having the poets and then the cutting of the birthday cake,” she continues, adding that she is hoping to have descendants of Banjo there for the special occasion.

But Banjo’s 160th Birthday Party is just the very beginning of the 2024 Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival — a 10-day celebration of Paterson and all things bush poetry.

On Saturday night, Molong Freemasons Hotel is hosting their annual Molong Poetry Brawl, The event sees contestants perform a one-minute original poem that contains the phrase “of course there isn’t much to see.”

Judged by award-winning bush poet Robyn Sykes there is good prize money on offer.

Then on Sunday, the festivities head to Yeoval for the Poets’ brunch and entertainment at the Banjo Paterson – More than a Poet Museum. Along with plenty of poetry and music, this year’s event will include the launch of a new book, Poets, Painters and Pioneers: The Remarkable Family of Banjo Paterson by Heather Knight. It all gets underway at 10am.

“And there's lots of other things on too,” says Elizabeth. “There’s the breakfast and poetry in the South Court with Rotary, Canowindra's doing something big, Molong's doing something, Cargo is doing something  — it’s terrific!”

While Banjo’s birthday has been a key event of the festival program since it began ten years ago (on Banjo’s 150th birthday), Elizabeth has been involved in annual celebrations for the poet’s birthday since the 1990s.

“I've been doing it since ‘94,” says Elizabeth, who is keen to see the memory of Orange’s own bush poet kept alive.

“Well, he is one of many, many poets and writers to come from Orange, but we just want to honour him and recognise him as one of our own… just recognise the fact that he is an Orange boy, born here on ‘Narrambla’.” 

To find out why Banjo was born on “Narrambla” you can read Elizabeth Griffin's contribution on the opposite page.

You will find the full program of events for the 2024 Banjo Paterson Australian Poetry Festival on page 19, or visit: orange360.com.au/Events