The Bush Brotherhood was a group of Anglican religious orders providing itinerant priests to minister to sparsely-settled rural districts in Australia. They were described as a "band of men" who could "preach like Apostles" and "ride like cowboys".[1]
The St Andrew's Bush Brotherhood was established in 1897 in Longreach, Queensland, by the Bishop of Stepney, Canon Body and the Bishop of Rockhampton, Nathaniel Dawes.[2][3][4] The first group of brothers was led by the Reverend George Halford.[5]
The Brotherhood of St Barnabas was established in 1902 in Herberton, Queensland by Aneirun Vaughan Williams and Joseph Braybarton. It was also known as the North Queensland Brotherhood.[6]
The Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd was established about 1903 in Dubbo, New South Wales.[7] The Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd published The Bush Brother magazine from 1904 to 1980.[8]
The Bush Brotherhood of St Boniface operated in the Diocese of Bunbury in Western Australia from July 1911 to 1929.[9][10]
In 1922, Bryan Robin published a book "The Sundowner" about his experiences in the Bush Brotherhood of St Barnabas in North Queensland from 1914 to 1921. This book attracted other priests to join the brotherhood.[11]
The Brotherhood of St John the Baptist was established in Murray Bridge, South Australia.[5]
The Bush Brotherhood of St Paul operated in Charleville and Cunnamulla in Queensland.
There were a number of different orders of Bush Brothers, but all operated on a similar basis of an almost monastic life, committed to:[1]
Their duties included:[7]
The Bush Brothers were either single (or left their wives behind during their period of service). Many were recruited from England where life in the Outback had a romantic appeal. Australian brothers were less frequently recruited.[1]
Although the Bush Brothers originally rode horses, they drove vehicles in later years.
The narrator of Nevil Shute's novel In the Wet is a member of the Bush Brotherhood and provides a (fictional) account of the life of one of these itinerant priests.