Dog on the Tuckerbox facts for kids

The Dog on the Tuckerbox monument

The Dog on the Tuckerbox is a famous Australian monument and a fun place to visit. It's located near Gundagai, in New South Wales. This special statue is inspired by an old poem and song about a loyal dog. It tells a story from Australia's early days.

The Story Behind the Dog Statue

The idea for the Dog on the Tuckerbox statue comes from an old poem. It was first published a long time ago, possibly in 1857 or 1880. The poem, called "Bullocky Bill," was written by someone named "Bowyang Yorke."

What is a Bullocky?

A "bullocky" was a person who drove a team of bullocks (male cattle) to pull heavy wagons. This was how goods were moved around Australia in the past. The poem humorously describes a bullock driver named Bill who has a lot of bad luck.

The Poem's Funny Ending

In the poem, Bill's bullock team gets stuck. Then, his dog either sits on or messes up his "tucker-box." A tucker-box is an old Australian word for a food box, like a big lunchbox. The poem ends with the dog on the tucker-box, five miles from Gundagai.

BILL THE BULLOCKY

(By "Bowyang York").

As I was coming down Conroy's Gap

I heard a maiden cry:

"There goes Bill the Bullocky,

He's bound for Gundagai.

A better poor old dog

Never cracked an honest crust;

A tougher poor old dog

Never drug a whip through dust.

"His team got bogged at the five mile creek,

Bill lashed and swore and cried,

'If Nobby don't get me out of this

I'll tattoo the old dogs hide.'

But Nobby strained and broke his yoke,

And poked out the leader's eye;

And the dog sat in the tucker box

Five miles from Gundagai."

A More Popular Version

Later, in the 1920s, a writer named Jack Moses wrote a different poem. It was called "Nine Miles from Gundagai." This poem also featured a dog guarding a tucker-box by sitting on it. Moses's poem became very popular and was the main inspiration for the statue. In 1937, Jack O'Hagan wrote a famous song called "Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox (5 miles from Gundagai)."

Building the Famous Monument

The first dog monument was put up in 1926, a bit further from Gundagai.

The Idea for a New Statue

In 1928, a stonemason from Gundagai named Frank Rusconi suggested a bigger memorial. He wanted to use the legend of the Dog on the Tuckerbox. In 1932, the local community decided to make this idea happen. They wanted to honor the pioneers and bullock drivers who built the roads.

Choosing the Best Location

The committee decided to place the monument at the "Five Mile" camping site. This spot was chosen because it was closer to the main highway and the town. This made it easier for tourists to visit.

The Inscription on the Base

A competition was held to find the best words for the monument. Brian Fitzpatrick from Sydney wrote the winning inscription. It reads:

"Earth's self upholds this monument

"To conquerors who won her when

"Wooing was dangerous, and now

"Are gathered unto her again."

How the Statue Was Made

Frank Rusconi designed the dog part of the monument. It was then cast (shaped from melted metal) at 'Oliver's Foundry' in Sydney. The base of the monument was created by Richard Fowler, a pattern maker at the same foundry.

The Grand Unveiling

The Dog on the Tuckerbox monument was officially revealed in 1932. This happened during 'Back to Gundagai' week. A large crowd gathered to see the Prime Minister, Joseph Lyons, unveil the statue on November 28, 1932. Money collected in a wishing well at the base of the monument was given to the Gundagai District Hospital. A souvenir shop also opened nearby.

Recent History of the Dog Statue

The "Dog on the Tuckerbox" festival has been held every year since 1992. This celebrates the monument's anniversary. In November 2005, the festival included a two-day racing carnival and other fun events.

Repairs and Re-unveiling

On July 28, 2019, the statue was slightly damaged when it was moved from its base. It was quickly repaired and had a special re-unveiling ceremony on August 17, 2019.

An Earlier Act of Vandalism

A few months after the statue was first unveiled in 1933, someone chipped away the Prime Minister's name from the base. This was likely done for political reasons. The stonemason, Rusconi, said the only way to properly fix it was to remove the marble slab and rework it.

Images for kids

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  The earlier monument photographed in 1926

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  A bullock team at the unveiling of the monument in 1932

See also