As an original worksong it was sung in a variety of trades, including being used by the wool and later the wheat traders who worked the clipper ships between Australian ports and London.
However, the evidence at hand does not suggest there is anything particularly or locally "Australian" about the song, contrary to how it has become popularly envisioned since the late 20th century.
[5] This shanty is not attested in writing again until Lydia Parrish's study of the music tradition of Georgia Sea Islanders, published in 1942.
Hatfield shared his recollections of a much earlier, 1886 voyage as a passenger traveling from Pensacola to Nice.
The song was of indefinite length, and created by supplying solo verses to a two-part refrain followed by a grand chorus.
The following is a sample after Stan Hugill: (solo) Oh South Australia is me home[8] (chorus) Heave away!
Solo verse couplets documented to have been sung to "South Australia" include the following from sailors of the 19th century.
He used Doerflinger's melody and the phrase "hear me sing," which are unique to that collection, which Lloyd used for other shanties he performed.
The Clancy Brothers' version is the most common one sung by folk music and shanty performers.