Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) one who lives/works in the bush.

1900–10

Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.] 35: The vernacular has idioms such as ‘The Man from the Wire Fence,’ ‘Country bloke’ or ‘Splaw’ or ‘Splodger,’ ‘Cockle,’ ‘Squatter,’ ‘Bullock-Puncher,’ etc. etc all of which have served to cut ‘bushman’ out.