Lighter wrote: I've been unable to trace this song any earlier than the 1950s.

Note the Ballad Index date of 1927, from Finger. Contrary to the implication by Fahey et al, it is not in the 1905 edition of "Old Bush Songs," but it is certainly pre-1957. A. L. Lloyd very likely changed "Billy Brink" to "Bluey Brink," and perhaps tightened it up generally, but it predates the Lloyd recording by at least thirty years.