The Bush Undertaker by Henry Lawson

The Bush Undertaker” by Henry Lawson – Summary

“The Bush Undertaker” (1892) is one of Henry Lawson’s most memorable Australian short stories. It vividly portrays the isolation, rough humour, and stark reality of bush life in 19th-century Australia.

Summary

The story begins with an old shepherd, known only as “Old Bill”, who lives alone in the Australian bush with his dog, Five-Bob. The man is eccentric and solitary, spending his days tending sheep, talking to himself, and interacting with his dog as if it were human. His habits and speech show both his rough bush character and a deep loneliness.

One day, while out in the bush, Old Bill and Five-Bob discover the remains of a man lying under a tree. The skeleton is partly buried in the sand, suggesting he died alone long ago. Old Bill identifies the body as Brummy, a wandering swagman (a travelling labourer), whom he had known years before. Brummy was a bit of a drunkard and a trickster, often cheating people in card games.

Despite Brummy’s dubious past, Old Bill decides to bury the remains properly, taking on the role of an “undertaker.” He collects the bones carefully, wraps them in a blanket, and digs a grave using crude bush tools. He even reads from an old torn Bible he carries, performing a kind of makeshift funeral service in the desolate landscape.

After the burial, Old Bill talks to Five-Bob about life, death, and salvation, showing his simple yet sincere faith. The story ends with the old man sitting quietly, contemplating mortality and his own loneliness in the endless Australian outback.