Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) going on a spending spree; also as adj.; thus cheque-buster/burster, one who does this.

1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May 15/1: Shearers were then just about on a par with their present-day confreres in gambling and cheque-bursting habits.
1943		Bulletin (Sydney) 8 Dec. 12/2: More than once I saw a cheque busting shearer – just on the verge of the d.ts.
1945		Bulletin (Sydney) 22 Aug. 12/1: Adelaide was the acme of cities, the vision of all vacationists, the cheque-busters’ dream.
1962		Marshall & Drysdale Joumey among Men 56: But the old cheque busters [...] were mostly men who led unbelievably lonely lives maintaining a remote bore pump far out on some station rim, or an equally solitary existence such as dogging.

(Aus.) a spendthrift, one who spends his season’s wages in a single glorious spree.

1893		H. Lawson ‘An Incident at Stiffner’s’ in Roderick (1972) 117: Stiffner had a barmaid as bait for the chequemen.
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Nov. 16/1: And what about the fantods by the Darling’s outer banks? / And the fishes that are fished for by the hatters and the cranks? / The jim-jams and deliriums that mercilessly gloat / Before the stony cheque-man’s eyes, and frizzle in his throat?
1990		Tupper & Wortley Aus. Prison Sl. Gloss. 🌐 Chequeman. A criminal who (forges and) utters worthless cheques.

(N.Z.) recently paid, and keen to start spending.

1933		(ref. to 1890–1910) L.G.D. Acland Early Canterbury Runs (1951) 368: Cheque proud – A station hand becomes c.p. when he wants a bust.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 45: If you are cheque proud, you are impatient about spending your cheque, from the restlessness of a collar-proud, harness-racing horse.

see burst a cheque under burst v.¹

(Aus.) well supplied with money.

1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Dec. 30/4: ‘Mary Nolan don’t keep star boarders at the R’yal Oak. Or is it that ye are chequed up to be workin’ hard?’ / ‘I gotter pot o’ beans outer the sweep, blokes,’ said Jimmy, proudly.
[1936		‘Banjo’ Paterson Shearer’s Colt 7: He looks like a shearer that’s made a cheque, and it wouldn’t be too hard to get it off him].

see scratch off under scratch v.