Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. Aus.) a rogue, a rascal, one who loiters around in the hope of hand-outs, which will save him from earning a living.

[1848		South Eastern Gaz. 27 June 5/1: It appears that the m en employed by Messrs Balston [...] are termed ‘Society men,’ whilst the men employed at Mr Giles’s [...] are classically termed ‘scowbankers’].
1850		Hobarton Guardian (Tas.) 18 May 3/6: When some person attempted to interfere, one of the defendants said ‘Now you be quiet, for you're only a scowbanker’.
1857		Argus (Melbourne) 11 May 6/2: I hope and trust the working community will not be apathetic, but show by their votes that they wish to support liberal men, but not scowbankers, loafers, and spungers on society.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict. 233: SKOW-BANKER, a fellow who loiters around the premises of anyone willing to support him without the necessity of his working for a living; a rogue, a rascal. Common in Melbourne, Australia.
1866		A Michie Retrospects and Prospects of the Colony 9: A skull-banker is a species of the genus loafer – half highwayman, half beggar. He is a haunter of stations, and lives on the squatters, amongst whom he makes a circuit, affecting to seek work, and determining not to find it.
1872		Bucks Herald 24 Aug. 5/3: I heard several calling complainant ‘scowbanker’.
1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Mar. 1/4: [It] is a testimony to [his] capability in a difficult branch of literary work, and […] he can well afford to laugh at the opposition of the scowbankers of the colonial Press, whose praise or censure can be purchased for a crown.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 74: Skowbanker, a fellow who lives on others and won’t work.
1898		A.J. Boyd Shellback 191: What he don’t know in the way of workin’ up a crew of scowbankers ain’t worth knowing. [Ibid.] 229: You white-livered ’longshore loafers! You ---- mutineering scowbankers!
1900–10		Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.] 133: SKULL-BANKER, SKOW-BANKER: obs.
1905		Preinceton Union (MN) 31 Aug. 6/2: ‘This yere ain’t no old tea wagin, no fishin’ boat, you old “scowbanker”. It’s a wessel-o’-war’.
1908		H. de V. Stacpoole Blue Lagoon (2004) 54: ‘Here, you scowbanker! [...] who are you to be giving directions—’ ‘Scowbanker yourself!’ replied the fellow.
1945		(ref. to late 19C) Baker Aus. Lang. 102: The scowbanker or skullbanker (1886), coaster (1878), sundodger [...] were other vagabonds who loafed in the outback or drifted from station to station.