What is the bush in Australia?
In Australia, the bush means natural, undeveloped land covered with native vegetation, as well as rural areas outside the cities. Australians use the word for anything from forests near Sydney to farming country inland.
The word bush has been used since colonial times to describe the land beyond settled areas. Early settlers talked about going bush or living in the bush, meaning leaving the towns and living in the country.
Today, the bush can mean eucalyptus forest, scrubland, or simply regional and rural Australia. Politicians often talk about the needs of people in the bush, meaning farmers and country communities.
Bush culture
The bush has a special place in Australian culture. Writers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson celebrated bush life in poems and stories, and the image of the hardworking bushman became part of national identity.
Many Australian words come from bush life, including bushwalking for hiking, bush tucker for native food and bushranger for outlaws who hid in the bush.
The bush is also linked to danger, especially during bushfires, which can spread rapidly through dry vegetation in summer.
Did You Know?
The outback usually refers to the remote interior, while the bush can be much closer to cities.