Van Diemen's Land

Van Diemen's Land folk-song. Presenting a gallery of convicts transported to »the fatal shore« of Tasmania and their various subsequent misfortunes, this is one of Australia's oldest traditional convict songs. It became known throughout the colonies and spread back to Britain. Various versions were published in broadsides c.1830, then in the English Folk Dance and Song Society Journal (1902); more recent publication began with John Manifold's arrangement in Bandicoot Ballads (1951).