Mulga Bill's Bicycle

Written by Andrew Barton (AB) "Banjo" Patterson.

Artwork by Gerry McMahon, 2008.

Mulga Bill's Bicycle was first published in The Sydney Mail, 25 July 1896.

Borrow this book

A classic ballad about Mulga Bill, a gentleman who buys a bicycle thinking he is a more accomplished rider than his comical ride and subsequent accident suggest.

"It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree,
It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be;
And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek
It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dead Man's Creek."

Meet the Artist: Gerry McMahon

Gerry McMahon is an Adelaide based artist whose practice has evolved from the skills he acquired from his previous occupation as a sheet metal tradesman. He has always appreciated the characteristics of metal, particularly its versatility and durability, but as an artist he is able to experiment, explore the boundaries and manipulate metal in a more creative fashion than ever before.

Many of his works are playful, capturing the imagination and evoking a whimsical, joyful sentiment. He is driven to create positive, engaging and uplifting works that communicate to their audience and enrich their environment.

Gerry’s practice is divided into three major areas: commissioned works, exhibitions and workshops. While enjoy the freedom of exhibiting, it is in the realm of public art that Gerry gains the greatest satisfaction, allowing his works to be seen by a larger audience and sharing his vision with the whole community; public pieces created within community based workshops reinforce this concept even further.

https://www.artlogic.com.au/artist/gerry-mcmahon