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Mackellar's notebook with first two verses

"My Country" is a poem written by Dorothea Mackellar (1885–1968) at the age of 19 about her love of the Australian landscape. After travelling through Europe extensively with her father during her teenage years, she started writing the poem in London in 1904[1] and re-wrote it several times before her return to Sydney. The poem was first published in The Spectator in London on 5 September 1908 under the title "Core of My Heart".[2] It was reprinted in many Australian newspapers, such as The Sydney Mail & New South Wales Advertiser,[3] who described the poem as a "...clear, ringing, triumphant note of love and trust in [Australia]."[4] The poem quickly became well known and established Mackellar as a poet. The first stanza describes England while the rest of the poem refers to Australia. "My Country" is one of the best-known pieces of Australian poetry[citation needed] and is considered by many Australians to present an overtly romanticised version of "The Australian condition".[citation needed]

Mackellar's family owned substantial properties in the Gunnedah district of New South Wales and a property (Torryburn) in the Paterson district of New South Wales. The poem is believed to have been inspired in part by Mackellar's love of the Allyn River district in NSW.[5]

In an interview in 1967, Mackellar described her reasons for writing the poem.[6]

Not really a special reason. But a friend was speaking to me about England. We had both recently come back from England. And she was talking about Australia and what it didn't have, compared to England. And I began talking about what it did have that England hadn't, that you couldn't expect to know the country to have. 'Cause, of course, there are lots of wonderful things, especially in the older parts, but they're not the same, and, of course, the people who came here first... I'm not blaming them for it. But it was so different to anything they'd known, they didn't understand.

MacKellar's first anthology of poems, The Closed Door, published in Australia in 1911, included the poem. The last line of the third stanza, "And ferns the warm dark soil" was originally "And ferns the crimson soil". Her second anthology, The Witch Maid & Other Verses, published in 1914, included the original version.[7]

A recording of "My Country" made by the radio and TV actor Leonard Teale became so popular in the 1970s that his reading of the first lines of the second stanza were often used to parody him.[citation needed]

Notes

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References

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My Country

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"My Country" is a celebrated Australian poem by , first published in 1908 under the title "Core of My Heart" in London's magazine, expressing profound love for Australia's rugged and diverse landscapes in contrast to the gentler countryside. Written when Mackellar was 19 years old and homesick while traveling in , the poem captures her for the "sunburnt" continent's unique beauty, including its sweeping plains, ragged mountain ranges, and wide brown land. Its iconic lines, such as "I love a sunburnt country, / A land of sweeping plains," have made it a cornerstone of Australian , often recited in schools and regarded as an unofficial anthem celebrating the nation's deep connection to its environment. The work highlights themes of patriotism, resilience, and appreciation for the harsh yet invigorating aspects of the Australian outback, distinguishing it from more temperate European ideals of nature.

Overview

Publication History

Dorothea Mackellar began drafting the poem that would become known as "My Country" around 1904, at the age of 19, feeling a deep sense of homesickness for . Traditionally attributed to experiences abroad, recent suggests the poem developed over years and was finalized in during a . She revised it multiple times over the next four years, completing the final version in early 1908. The poem was first published on 5 September 1908 in the London-based magazine under its original title, "Core of My Heart." It was soon reprinted in several Australian newspapers, including The Sydney Mail and Advertiser on 21 October 1908, where an accompanying note praised it for striking "the right note—the clear, ringing, triumphant note of love and trust in our [country]." This early dissemination helped establish the poem's resonance with Australian readers, who appreciated its vivid portrayal of the nation's diverse and challenging landscapes. In 1911, the poem appeared under the title "My Country" in Mackellar's debut collection, The Closed Door and Other Verses, published by the Australasian Authors' Agency in . The collection marked her entry into book form publication and further solidified the poem's place in , with reprints continuing in periodicals like the Sydney Bulletin through the early .

Poem Text

The poem "My Country," written by in , consists of six stanzas with an irregular rhyme scheme and meter, often featuring ABAB patterns in individual stanzas.
The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft dim skies—
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise. I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror—
The wide brown land for me! Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When, sick at heart, around us
We see the die—
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain. Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze. . . . An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land—
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand—
Though holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
O hear me tell you plainly:
I LOVE this sunburnt country.

Background

Authorship and Inspiration

(1885–1968) was an Australian poet born on 1 July 1885 in as the youngest child and only daughter of Sir Charles Kinnaird Mackellar, a distinguished physician and public figure, and his wife Marion. Raised in the affluent urban suburb of overlooking Harbour, Mackellar received a private education at home, becoming fluent in multiple languages including French, Spanish, German, and Italian, and occasionally attending lectures at the . Her family's wealth allowed frequent travels abroad and visits to their rural estates, providing a stark contrast between city life and the expansive Australian bush that would profoundly influence her writing. Mackellar's exposure to rural Australia came through family properties such as those in the Gunnedah region of and Torryburn station in the Hunter Valley, where she witnessed the land's dramatic cycles of and renewal. These experiences shaped her intimate connection to the continent's rugged terrain, from sweeping plains to jagged ranges, fostering a that permeated her . Her early literary efforts began in childhood, driven by a youthful passion for verse that drew from personal observation and emotional depth. The poem "My Country," originally titled "Core of My Heart," emerged from Mackellar's during a stay in at age 19, around 1904, when she drafted its initial version amid longing for . Away from her homeland, she articulated a visceral attachment to its landscapes, contrasting the "sapphire-misted mountains" and orderly "green and shaded lanes" of with Australia's "ragged mountain ranges," "sweeping plains," and extremes of "droughts and flooding rains." This period of exile amplified her appreciation for the country's raw vitality, transforming personal nostalgia into a broader ode to its distinctive character. Mackellar's motivation was to express an unvarnished love for Australia's imperfections—its harshness and unpredictability—rather than romanticizing it through the lens of conventional beauty, as she later reflected in her writings that her verse stemmed "from the heart, from , from ." By embracing the land's challenges, such as dying cattle under a "pitiless blue sky" followed by life-giving storms, the poem captured her intent to affirm a profound, authentic rooted in .

Historical Context

The on 1 January 1901 united the six self-governing British colonies—New South Wales, Victoria, , , , and —into a single nation, while still under the sovereignty of the British monarch. This event spurred a growing sense of , as Australians began to emphasize their distinct continental experiences over purely imperial loyalties, with many still identifying primarily as British subjects. The poem "My Country" emerged in this milieu, capturing an evolving pride in Australia's rugged landscapes as symbols of independence from British ideals. Early 20th-century Australia faced profound environmental challenges that underscored the land's dual nature of beauty and adversity, most notably during the Federation Drought from 1895 to 1903, which remains the nation's worst recorded drought due to its devastating impact on and . This prolonged period of , peaking in 1902 and affecting over a third of the continent, led to massive losses and collapses, including the death of millions of native plants and animals. Intermittent floods following the dry spells further molded public perceptions of the terrain as unforgiving yet resilient, influencing cultural narratives about the harsh yet captivating Australian environment. In the literary sphere, the early 1900s witnessed the flourishing of Australian bush poetry, a genre that romanticized rural hardships and frontier life to foster nationalist sentiments, with Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson as a leading figure through works like "The Man from " published in the 1890s. This tradition, rooted in 19th-century ballads, drew on Romantic influences to evoke a mythic white Australian historicity tied to the outback. Mackellar's "My Country" positioned itself within this scene as a from an urban, feminine vantage—born in and shaped by city life—offering a lyrical affirmation of the nation's geographic diversity amid the dominant rural-focused canon.

Analysis

Structure and Form

"My Country" consists of six octaves, or eight-line stanzas, which provide a rhythmic framework reminiscent of traditional ballads. This structure allows for a progressive unfolding of , beginning with a contrast to an idealized foreign landscape and building toward an affirmation of the Australian terrain. The poem's rhythm is ballad-like, with lines approximating —unstressed-stressed syllable patterns of four feet per line—though variations occur for emphasis and natural speech flow. For instance, the opening line "The love of field and coppice" follows an iambic pattern: da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM. This loose metrical structure evokes the of bush ballads, enhancing the poem's accessibility and musicality without rigid adherence to form. The primarily follows an ABCBDEFE pattern per , where even-numbered lines often in pairs or alternates, creating a song-like that mirrors the ebb and flow of the described landscapes. is employed frequently, such as in the second 's run-on from "I love her far horizons" to "I love her jewel-sea," which propels the reader forward and simulates the expansive, fluid movement of natural elements like horizons and seas. This technique avoids abrupt stops, reinforcing the poem's sense of vastness and continuity. Mackellar's language features vivid, sensory that appeals to sight, touch, and sound, painting the Australian environment in tangible terms. Examples include "sunburnt country," evoking the harsh heat of the ; "sweeping plains," suggesting broad, windswept expanses; and "sapphire-misted mountains," conjuring cool, ethereal heights. These descriptors ground abstract in , perceptual details, making the land feel alive and immersive. A key stylistic choice is the use of antithesis to highlight contrasts, both within Australia and between it and the speaker's implied English counterpart. The first stanza's "ordered woods and gardens" stands against the second's "ragged mountain ranges" and "droughts and flooding rains," underscoring a tension between tamed, predictable beauty and raw, unpredictable power. Similarly, phrases like "her beauty and her terror" encapsulate the dual nature of the land, using opposition to emphasize its complexity and vitality. This rhetorical device not only structures individual lines but also propels the poem's exploration of national identity through oppositional imagery.

Themes and Interpretation

The poem "My Country" centers on an for Australia's diverse and often harsh landscapes, portraying the nation's beauty as inseparable from its challenges such as droughts, s, fires, and famines. This theme emerges in lines like "For and fire and famine, / She pays us back threefold," emphasizing a reciprocal bond where the land's adversities strengthen the speaker's affection. Mackellar rejects the softer, "green and shaded lanes" of , contrasting them with Australia's "wide brown land," to affirm a deeper, more authentic connection born of . Key symbols reinforce this resilient , with "sunburnt country" serving as a for Australia's arid, unforgiving terrain that embodies the toughness and vitality of its people. The phrase evokes not just physical dryness but a hardy spirit, as in "I love a , / A land of sweeping plains," symbolizing a collective character forged by environmental extremes. Similarly, the direct address "all you who have not loved her" confronts expatriates or skeptics—those who favor more temperate climes—challenging their detachment and underscoring the poem's call for an intimate, unflinching embrace of the . An environmental lens interprets the poem as an embrace of nature's imperfections, celebrating the "pitiless blue sky" and "steady, soaking rain" as integral to ecological reality, rather than lamenting them. From a postcolonial perspective, the work asserts Australian distinctiveness from Britain by contrasting the "ordered" English countryside with the chaotic, vibrant Australian interior, yet it reflects a colonial gaze that naturalizes European myths of an empty land while overlooking Indigenous connections. Written abroad in 1908, the poem's nationalist fervor positions as a sovereign entity, but critics note its "loving white colonial pastorale" idealizes dispossession, as later parodied by First Nations poets to expose environmental and cultural scars. This reading ties into early 20th-century efforts to forge a separate identity amid and imperial ties.

Legacy

Cultural Impact

"My Country" by has been a staple in Australian education since the early twentieth century, where it is recited and taught in schools to foster a sense of and connection to the nation's . Generations of students have committed its verses to memory as part of the , emphasizing themes of resilience and love for the land to build . The poem serves as a national symbol, frequently quoted in political speeches and public addresses, particularly during times of environmental challenge such as droughts. For instance, Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Guy Debelle invoked its lines on droughts and flooding rains in a 2019 speech on and economic impacts, highlighting its relevance to contemporary issues. It is also featured in commemorations, where its evocation of home and the harsh beauty of the Australian bush resonates with themes of sacrifice and longing for the homeland. Through its enduring popularity, "My Country" has profoundly influenced Australian identity, popularizing the phrase "sunburnt country" as a synonymous emblem of the nation's rugged terrain and spirit. This iconic description has permeated public discourse, symbolizing pride in 's unique environment. Annual readings of the poem are a tradition at events, reinforcing its role in celebrating national character and unity. The poem's legacy continues through initiatives like the annual Poetry Awards, which encourage young writers to engage with its themes; winners for 2025 were announced in September 2025. While celebrated for its patriotic evocation of the land, the poem has faced criticism for its Eurocentric perspective, which some argue romanticizes the Australian landscape through a settler-colonial lens and overlooks Indigenous relationships to .

Adaptations and Usage

The poem "My Country" has been adapted into numerous musical settings, beginning in the mid-20th century and continuing into contemporary compositions. One of the earliest notable arrangements is "Australia My Country" by William G. James, composed for voices and , which captures the poem's rhythmic in a simple choral form suitable for school and community performances. In 1940, Arthur S. Loam created a setting for mixed voices (S.A.T.B.), emphasizing the poem's evocative through harmonious vocal layers that have been performed in Australian choral ensembles since its publication. More recent adaptations include Peter Webb's 2009 score for voices and , blending traditional elements with modern orchestration to highlight the poem's environmental themes. Internationally, composed a vocal setting titled "Land of Sweeping Plains" in 2012 for the , premiered during their Australian tour, which infuses the text with delicate, soaring melodies to evoke the vastness of the Australian landscape. In media, the poem has appeared in advertisements and broadcasts, reinforcing its role in promoting Australian identity. For instance, insurance company featured lines from "My Country" in a 2024 television campaign, juxtaposing the poem's celebration of rugged beauty with everyday mishaps to underscore national resilience. Similarly, Woolworths drew visual inspiration from the poem in a 2021 supermarket series, using its descriptions of sweeping plains and droughts to promote locally sourced fresh and highlight sustainable farming. On radio, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has broadcast recitations and musical versions, including a 1967 of This Day Tonight that presented the poem as a song performed by a young vocalist, connecting it to mid-century cultural programming. The preserves a 1958 recording of Mackellar herself reciting the poem, which has been aired on ABC stations to commemorate national events and anniversaries. Contemporary applications include recitations at environmental commemorations and creative reinterpretations through parodies. Following the 2009 in Victoria, which devastated communities and echoed the poem's lines on fire and flood, excerpts were recited at memorial services to honor victims and reflect on Australia's harsh yet enduring landscapes. Parodies have emerged as a form of adaptation, often addressing modern issues like ; for example, the 2021 Transforming My Country project by the Emerging Writers' Festival commissioned fourteen poets to respond to and remix the original, producing satirical and updated verses that critique while retaining the poem's structure. These uses demonstrate the poem's ongoing relevance in public discourse, particularly among communities where it serves as a touchstone for abroad.

References

  1. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/dorothea-mackellars-my-country
  2. https://emergingwritersfestival.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Transforming-My-Country_AP2021.pdf
  3. https://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/my-country/
  4. https://insidestory.org.au/a-triumph-and-a-burden/
  5. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/core-my-heart
  6. https://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/history/
  7. https://www.australianculture.org/core-of-my-heart-dorothea-mackellar/
  8. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163231253
  9. https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5367188
  10. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mackellar-isobel-marion-dorothea-7383
  11. https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/arts/display/21461-dorothea-mackellar-o.b.e.
  12. https://www.curtisbrown.com.au/mackellar-dorothea
  13. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/history-of-parliament/federation/the-federation-of-australia
  14. https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/News_and_events/Senate_training_and_lectures/Senate_Lecture_Series/Transcripts/2007/040507
  15. https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/federation
  16. https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/federation-drought
  17. https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/news/2019/july/megadrought-caused-mega-biodiversity-loss
  18. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-07-16/federation-drought-analysis-finds-huge-ecosystem-losses/11312694
  19. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Banjo-Paterson
  20. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10509585.2024.2307134
  21. https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/dorothea-mackellar/my-country
  22. https://readingaustralia.com.au/lesson/the-abc-book-of-australian-poetry/
  23. https://australianhumanitiesreview.org/2012/05/01/only-planet-unsettling-travel-culture-and-climate-change-in-settler-australia/
  24. https://textjournal.scholasticahq.com/article/30985-writing-ecological-disfigurement-first-nations-poetry-after-the-black-grass-of-bitumen.pdf
  25. https://www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2019/sp-dg-2019-03-12.html
  26. https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/may/29/if-we-love-our-sunburnt-country-we-should-be-protecting-its-heritage-not-exploding-it-
  27. https://dorothea.com.au/
  28. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/sep/15/her-sunburnt-country-by-deborah-fitzgerald-review-illuminating-biography-of-dorothea-mackellar
  29. https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2064873
  30. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/478637
  31. https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/my-country
  32. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/musicshow/elena-kats-chernin-and-a-new-setting-of-27my-country27/4250292
  33. https://www.ogilvy.com/ap/work/my-country
  34. https://acmag.com.au/2021/06/01/sunburnt-country/
  35. https://www.abc.net.au/education/this-day-tonight-dorothea-mackellars-my-country-as-a-song-1967/13942282
  36. https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/sounds-australia
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