Where “Selector” Comes From
A selector was a small farmer who took up a block of land under the land laws passed in the colonies from the 1860s, starting in New South Wales in 1861. The laws aimed to open up land for small farmers instead of large pastoral runs.
The tension between selectors and squatters, who held huge leases, became a theme in Australian history and literature.
“His grandfather was a selector.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in history lessons and rural stories.
In Real Life
Many selectors faced drought, poor soil and debts, and some lost their land. Their lives were captured in “On Our Selection”, a 1899 collection of stories by Steele Rudd that introduced Dad and Dave to Australian readers. Today the word is mainly historical, and many families trace their roots to a selector ancestor.
Quick Questions
What’s the difference between a selector and a squatter?
A selector took up a small block under the land acts, while a squatter held a large pastoral lease.
What is On Our Selection?
A book of stories by Steele Rudd about a struggling selector family.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: suh-LEK-tuh.
In conversation:
- Our family were selectors.
- Selectors faced hard times.
- On Our Selection is a famous book.
Good to know: The word comes from the land acts that let people “select” land before it was surveyed. Many selectors struggled with poor land and drought.
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