Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) the élite of the country’s farming magnates, viewed as an Australian aristocracy; thus squattocrat n., a member of the group; squattocratic adj.

1841		Sydney Herald 19 June 2/4: A dinner was given to him on Thursday last, at Betty’s Hotel, which was attended by a large numberof the ‘Squattocracy’ of New England, and Darling Downe.
1852		G.C. Mundy Our Antipodes III 260: A tall, picturesque-looking sprig of the squattocracy has just pitched his ‘swag’ – a leathern valise – through the open skylight.
1860		Hamilton Spectator (Victoria) 30 June 2/3: Many now ‘loafing’ about the city of Melbourne, howling inane invectives against the ‘squattocracy’ [...] and any other class who happen to have — what they have not.
1872		C.H. Eden My Wife and I in Queensland 59: The howl for the abolition of the squattocracy had not yet been fostered.
1878		N. Otago Times 22 Apr. 2/6: The pronunciation ‘warmaru’ is a piece of affectation originating with the local squattocracy.
1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 25 Apr. 13/2: No. 2 was a squattocratic magistrate, whose embossed shirt-front was adorned by gold-rimmed studs, and whose billy-cock hat, by its inordinate gloss, struck envy into the heart of the country editor.
1889		N.Z. Press 12 Dec. 6/4: Truly, the farmers will soon have something for which to thank a paternal Government and a selfish squattocracy.
1890		Bulletin (Sydney) 2 Aug. 14/2: That institution for the reception of bald-headed identities and the retired squattocracy, yclept the Melbourne Club, have, or had, a rule which prohibits any member of the dramatic or artistic professions becoming a member or honorary member.
1900–10		Stephens & O’Brien Materials for a Dict. of Aus. Sl. [unpub. ms.].
1907		Marlborough Express 22 Oct. 5/5: They are of the Colonial Nobility, i.e., Squattocracy.
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Nov. 13/2: He was passing through to stay with one of the district squattocrats, and the town spread itself in a display of ‘loyalty.’.
1913		Colonist (NZ) 20 June 8/1: Even the great wool kings in Hawke’s Bay and squattocracy in general scarificed dignity and pride for the time being.
1920		N.Z. Truth 24 July 1/1: [headline] Our Squattocracy.
1939		N.Z. Eve. Post 17 June 10/6: These are the so-called revels of the Squattocracy, who, in countery districts, rank as the elite.
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl.
1945		N.Z. Eve. Post 8 Oct. 4/7: [heading] Bureacracy and Squattocracy.
1955		N. Pulliam I Travelled a Lonely Land (1957) 239/2: squattocracy – squatters.
1984		W. Ammon et al. Working Lives 91: There were a few white girls of my age [...] At least a few who didn’t smack of squattocrasy and imperiousness.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 107/1: squattocracy wealthy landowners who assume aristocratic airs.
1998		Guardian 5 Sept. 35/2: Whalers were followed by the settlers, shagroons, and squattocracy with their gummies and cowspanking.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].
2018		C. Hammer Scrublands [ebook] ‘We got rich [...] We were the last of the squattocracy’.