What did The Bulletin mean when it urged writers to “write Australian”?

When the weekly publication The Bulletin urged contributors to “write Australian,” it was promoting a distinct nationalist agenda during the late 19th century. This directive encouraged writers to move away from foreign influences and instead focus on themes and subjects that reflected the unique Australian experience.1

Specifically, the publication sought to:

• Celebrate the Australian worker: It prioritized the virtues of the common person, particularly the bush worker, and championed the egalitarian myth of “mateship” over individualistic struggle.1
• Adopt a specific style: It advocated for a spare, laconic writing style and a humorous, resilient attitude toward the hardships of life.1
• Focus on local themes: It favored narratives centered on rural life, national pride, and the struggles of small-scale farmers.1

By promoting these values, The Bulletin aimed to foster a sense of national identity and cultural independence, helping to define the "national type" through the lens of bush realism and the experiences of the Australian settler society.1