Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig./mainly Aus.) a general phr. of greeting.

1864		‘Edmund Kirke’ Down in Tennessee 106: Giving me a grasp of the hand and a cordial ‘How dy’ge, stranger?’.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 15 Sept. 13/1: I metabloke in Collun-street – / A cove I yustano / When I wuz workinin Southoss, / A yeerertwo ago. / Sezzi, ‘Well, owye kumminup? / I spose yehnomee still?’ / ’E grabsme bethe ’andansiz, / ‘W’y owsheegoinbil?’.
1924		Lawrence & Skinner Boy in Bush 250: Hello, mate! How’s goin’?
1937		J. Curtis You’re in the Racket, Too 187: Hallo, Snowey. How are you going on mate?
1968		D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 151: G’day. Owyezgoin?
1979		D. Maitland Breaking Out 62: Men who were [...] walking, talking [...] a howyergarnmate-orrite?
1981		J. Sullivan ‘Big Brother’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] How you going Dave?
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 59/2: how ya goin’, mate? Kiwi greeting, fairly quintessential.