Saltbush Bill J.P. and Other Verses was published in 1917 and contains the national song "Waltzing Matilda", as well as "Saltbush Bill, J.P." and "A Dream of the Melbourne Cup".

A. B. (Andrew Barton) Paterson (1864-1941) was born near Orange in New South Wales and achieved fame as a short story, ballad and legend writer, drawing on his experiences growing up near Yass. He is the major folk poet of Australian literature, publishing many books of verse, short stories and two novels.