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Aussie Gazette
Gallery One Australia
Gallery Two Australia
Gallery Three Australia
Flowers World Gallery
Still Life Gallery
Young Artists
Black and White Gallery
 Australian Songs
Aussie National Anthem
World Anthems
Poetry - Music - Chopin
Poets Australia
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 www.imagesaustralia.com |
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Refrain
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,
Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay
Oh we are bound for Botany Bay.
Verse 1
Farewell to Old England forever
Farewell to my old pals as well
Farewell to the well known Old Bailee
Where I once used to be such a swell
Where I once used to be such a swell.
Verse 2
There's the captain as is our commandeer,
There's bo'sun and all the ship's crew
There's first and the second class passengers,
Knows what we poor convicts goes through
Knows what we poor convicts goes through.
Verse 3
'Taint leaving Old England we cares about,
'Taint 'cos we mispells wot we knows
But becos all we light finger'd gentry
Hop's around with a log on our toes.
Hop's around with a log on our toes.
Verse 4
Oh had I the wings of a turtle-dove,
I'd soar on my pinions so high,
Slap bang to the arms of my Polly love,
And in her sweet presence I'd die
And in her sweet presence I'd die.
Verse 5
Now all my young Dookies and Duchesses,
Take warning from what I've to say,
Mind all is your own as you touch-es-es,
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay,
Or you'll find us in Botany Bay.
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Strip of five 5cent stamps issued by
Australia Post to celebrate the bicentenary of the discovery of the east coast of Australia by
Captain James Cook in 1770 |
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A Brief History about the Discovery of Australia
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On the 29th April 1770 a British ship named the Endeavour, and under the command of James
Cook, anchored in what was later named Botany Bay. Botany Bay is now surrounded by
the suburbs of Sydney. Later in August 1770, Captain James Cook
in the name of King George 111 of Great Britain, claimed possession of the whole east coast of
Australia, at first he called it New Wales. He later changed it to New South Wales.
Ten years after the naming of Botany Bay the first fleet left Britain in May 1787 and reached
Botany Bay on January 19-20-1788. There were eleven vessels which carried about 730
convicts and 250 free settlers
This is not a history lesson about the discovery of Australia. If you want more detailed and
accurate information may I suggest you go to an encyclopaedia. However if some knowledgeable
person or persons want to correct me please do so. Just go to my e-mail and information
page and e-mail away.
Verses of this Song
If you read the verses of this song you will realize that many of the original settlers were
convicts and subjected to a cruel, a very desperate and hard life - in a
strange inhospitable land - as were the free settlers. Yet in spite of this I believe this
song more so than any other relating to Australia shows a great spirit of optimism, which even
today typifies the character of Australians no matter where they originally came from.
Unfortunately this can sometimes be misinterpreted as cheekiness, cockiness or even arrogance.
One of the most evil and notorious penal colonies was situated at Port Arthur in Tasmania, where
apart from the extreme cruelty meted out to the prisoners, the total population of Aboriginals
bar one were killed. I think every Australian feels, sorrow and regret for the appalling and
inhuman treatment of the Aboriginals along with the prisoners. |
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