When Christina waltzed with Banjo and the bushranger

“Banjo” Paterson is famed for writing the lyrics to Waltzing Matilda, but the woman who wrote the music had her own remarkable tale.

Christina Macpherson played the song that inspired Banjo Paterson to create Waltzing Matilda.

While Christina Macpherson’s name is barely known today, she played a key role in the lives of two vastly different historical figures: Banjo Patterson and Dan “Mad Dog” Morgan.

Christina is the subject of the latest episode of the In Black and White podcast on Australia’s forgotten characters, available today:

As a musician, Christina formed a close relationship with Banjo, and contributed the melody that inspired him to write the words to Waltzing Matilda.

And as a baby, Christina found herself at the centre of a siege in the last hours of the murderous bushranger Mad Dog’s life at her family’s property at Peechelba, near Wangaratta.

Christina’s story features in the Melbourne edition of the Grave Tales series of books, co-authored by Chris Adams and Helen Goltz.

In 1865, Mad Dog – whose criminal record ranged from highway robbery to murder – stormed the Macpherson homestead with a posse of men and took the family and servants hostage.

“He forced the terrified governess to play the piano for his entertainment, while the other household members had to bring food for him and his men,” Chris says.

An illustration of Mad Dog on the run from police in the bush. Picture: State Library of Victoria

“The story goes that in the next room to where his men and he were being fed, baby Christina kept annoying Morgan because she was crying, wailing.

“He ordered one of the young girls to go and ‘keep that brat, quiet’ were his words.”

So young nursemaid Alice Keenan raced to the bedroom and was able to pacify Christina.

“Some accounts of the incident report that Alice climbed out the window of the bedroom and ran across the field to the home of Mr Rutherford, the co-owner, and alerted him,” Chris says.

But Alice later said that after Mad Dog pointed a gun at her she slipped into the kitchen, where she alerted the milkman, and it was he who raised the alarm.

Bushranger Dan ‘Mad Dog’ Morgan.

Mad Dog Morgan.

Police and armed vigilantes surprised Mad Dog the next day and he was shot and later died.

Christina went on to become a musician and in 1894, aged 30, she headed to one of her well-to-do family’s many properties, Dagworth Station, near Winton in Queensland, to have Christmas with her family.

Christina’s school friend from Melbourne, Sarah Riley, was there with her fiance, Banjo Paterson, and the house guests enjoyed picnics and casual recitals.

Christina Macpherson.

Australian author and poet Andrew Barton Paterson, best known as Banjo Paterson.

Christina played the autoharp, and Banjo Paterson heard her play her recollection of a tune that had stuck with her after she heard a brass band perform it at the Warrnambool races.

Banjo was inspired to write some words to it, and we now know the collaborative result as Waltzing Matilda.

Listen to the interview with author Chris Adams about the life of Christina Macpherson in the In Black and White podcast on iTunes, Spotify or web.

See In Black & White in the Herald Sun newspaper Monday to Friday for more stories and photos from Victoria’s past.