The Dog on a Tuckerbox

The origins of this story comes from Australian bushlore, it is even more bizarre than usual.

For instance there is no mention of the breed of dog, or even a name - just 'the dog on the tuckerbox!', or more simply 'the dog'.
In about 1824 the trail around the Murrumbidgee River, was opened up for prospectors and cattle drovers. Times were hard and hazardous, with all supplies having to be manhandled along the makeshift track, which was over very rough virgin terrain.

Lumbering bullock carts with handlers called Teamsters, but which in Australian slang is 'Bullocky's', were the main means of transport. In those days a dog usually accompanied each wagon, acting as a guard to its masters meagre possession, especially the tuckerbox.

To pass time during rest periods the men would sing songs and tell tales about their exploits, making up doggerel verse and rhymes. It was at a halt on a river creek just north of Gundagai the legend of the The Dog on the Tuckerbox was born, in about 1850.

A bush yarn told of the hardship of a Bullocky, bogged down in mud, having a great deal of trouble, generaly fed-up, with the last straw being when his dog sat in, not on, his tuckerbox, ruining his change of a decent evening meal!

The legend of The Dog on the Tuckerbox was eventually immortalised by Jack O'Hagen with his popular song that extolled the spirit of the early pioneers with their dogs, who endured hardship and peril to ensure Australia's future, which also put the town of Gundagai, nestling at the foot of Mount Parnassus in the Murrumbidgee Valley on the world map.

A statue of the dog on the tuckerbox guarding his msters food, the very image of loyalty, was produced with funds from the townspeople, to commemorate the pioneers of the last century.