The Colt from Old Regret

Book cover for 'The Colt from Old Regret' which features illustrations of a brown horse and a white horse in the Australian bush

You may have heard the story of the man from Snowy River and his fearless ride through the mountains. This is Colt’s story, of nickering mares and a rearing stallion. What does Colt see, feel and smell as he charges through the bush? Will he escape the snapping stockwhips, to find shelter in an alpine meadow?

Beloved children’s author Dianne Wolfer responds to The Man from Snowy River, creating an essential companion to the original poem. With exquisite collages by Erica Wagner, this book is a new classic in the making.

Includes Banjo Paterson’s The Man from Snowy River, as well as information about bush poetry, brumbies, the Snowy Mountains and more.

Teachers' notes

The Colt from Old Regret - Teachers' notes (PDF, 1.42MB)

Black and white photo of a man on a horse using a whip to direct brumbies

Jim Fitzpatrick & Australia. Department of Information, George Day has his stock whip cracking as he moves up to drive the brumbies into a dead end in the Australian Alps, 1949, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137678848

Illustration of three men and a dog around a campfire at night

William Rodolph Thomas, A night in the Mount Barker Ranges, near Adelaide, South Australia, ca. 1874, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151836770

Banjo Patterson, photograph, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2902002641

Page of a diary with a handwritten draft of the lyrics to 'Waltzing Matilda'

Banjo Paterson, 1892 diary, used as a notebook, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2873494891

About the author

Dianne Wolfer is an award-winning author of 25 books, including the acclaimed Light series, The Dog with Seven Names and The Last Light Horse. Most recently, Dianne’s book Scout and the Rescue Dogs won the Children’s Book of the Year at the Western Australian Premier’s Literary Awards.

About the illustrator

Erica Wagner is an artist, publisher and creative consultant to storytellers. For over three decades, Erica has edited and published many ground-breaking and award-winning books for children and young adults. Erica’s first book, Hope is the Thing (2023), written by Johanna Bell, won the CBCA New Illustrator Award. The book was also shortlisted for the 2024 Wilderness Society Environment Awards for Children’s Literature. Erica is a painter, drawer and collage artist.