George Barrington - Latter-day Renown

Latter-day Renown

Whatever doubts may exist about the authorship of the "Prologue," its most famous line has become an iconic part of Australian culture. (For example, it is quoted in the film Breaker Morant and provides the title of the play Our Country's Good). It begins:

From distant climes, o'er wide-spread seas, we come,

Though not with much éclat or beat of drum,

True patriots all: for, be it understood:

We left our country for our country's good.

—George Barrington, A History of New South Wales