1890s
Still common
Definition
A newcomer, stranger, or outsider who has just arrived in a town or surf spot.
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Where "Blow-in" Comes From
"Blow-in" began in late 19th-century Australian bush vernacular. It evoked the dusty desert whirlwinds and bush gusts that literally seemed to blow transient swagmen and itinerant shearers onto outback stations in search of seasonal work.
In the 1960s, Australia's coastal surfing culture seized on the word, turning "blow-in" into the definitive territorial insult spray-painted on seawalls to warn visiting city surfers to stay off local beach breaks.
Source:
Example Sentence
"Don't pay any attention to him, he's just a blow-in who moved here a fortnight ago."
How Aussies Actually Use It
Used in small communities, pubs, and surf beaches to denote someone who hasn't been around long enough to be considered a local.
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