Thanks for clearing up a mystery. I have a recording from the '80s of Geoff Ling (any relation of Percy?) of Blaxhall, near Snape.

When I was a young man, and about seventeen,
I was ordered to fight for Victoria, our queen,
But to keep her like a lady I went on that highway,
And for that I was sent to Australia.

Australia, Australia, how we worked in that land,
They drove us like horses to plough up their land;
You should've seen us poor fellows, oh, how cruel were they
How hard is our fate in Australia.

Australia, Australia, I shall ne'er see no more,
I'm ate up with fever, brought down to death door;
But if ever I should live to see seven years more,
I will then bid adieu to Australia.

From Songs sung in Suffolk, Vol 3. Veteran Tapes VT103. (Field recordings 1985-87 by John Howson). Sung by Geoff Ling of Blaxhall, Suffolk.

The first verse didn't seem to make sense (going on the highway to keep Queen Victoria like a lady), but from Malcolm's postings it seems that this Mr Ling has telescoped the first two verses to make a single non-sensical one.

Mr Ling's tune is almost identical to Australia.mid as posted by Malcolm - the only significant difference is the ending of the second line.

X: 219
T:Australia
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
N:From Geoff Ling of Blaxhall, Suffolk, 1980s. Taped by John Howson.
K:C % 0 sharps
z2 z2 G2|
c3 B c2|G2 B2 AB|c2 A2 F2|E4 GG|
c2 B2 c2|A2 G3 E|G2 G2 E2|D4 Bc|
d2 B2 AA|Gc3 ed|c2 A2 F2|E4 DD|
C2 c2 B2|A2 F3 D|B,2 C4-|C2 z2 z2||

WassaiL! V