From 1900 composers began to identify more with areas of local scenic interest such as the River Murray which inspired titles such as this piece and others like Moonlight on the Murray by Stella Harslett published in 1901 and Sunset on the Murray by Cyril Ross.

George Bellchambers grew up at Caloote near Mannum (South Australia), a town along the river Murray. The Lazy Murray is a score for voice and piano and Gwen Bellchambers, George's daughter, evidenced by a note on the cover sang the song over the radio on two shows broadcast at that time; Australia's Amateur Hour and South Australian Amateur Hour. Reputedly Gwen also sang this song in a talent competition in Melbourne, where she won third place.
  

From Colonel Light into the footlights : the performing arts in South Australia from 1836 to the present , Norwood, S. Aust. : Pagel Books, 1988

Holmes, Robyn. The collector's book of sheet music covers, Canberra : National Library of Australia, 2001

Music Australia