What is the significance and origins of the bush legend and other images in early Australian literature?

During the course of Australia's history, many historians, writers, poets and others have attempted to put their finger on and establish an authentic or 'real' Australian identity for the relatively young population. One of the important and prolific images or legends is the Bush legend. The bush legend has been a theme of great debate over the years and two historians who have participated in this debate are Russel Ward in his 'Australian Legend' written in 1958 and re-printed in 1982, and Graeme Davison's 'Sydney and the Bush: An Urban Context for the Australian Legend', written in 19…