This volume investigates the evolution of Australian poetic identity from its colonial ballad origins to the sophisticated symbolism of Christopher Brennan. T. Inglis Moore, a noted scholar of Australian letters, utilizes a chronological framework to analyze how the Australian landscape and social conditions shaped the thematic concerns of local poets. By examining the transition from bush ballads to more formal, intellectual verse, the author argues that Australian poetry reflects a maturing national consciousness.

This work is regarded as a foundational academic resource for students and scholars of Australian literary history. Its systematic approach provides a clear, authoritative overview of the formative period of the nation's poetic tradition.