A New Zealand publication has argued that the nation not only held the world's first sausage sizzle but also invented the humble snack, despite Australian claims to the contrary. This debate has reignited a longstanding trans-Tasman rivalry over culinary origins, reminiscent of disputes over lamingtons, pavlovas, and flat whites.
The Sausage Sizzle: A Cherished Australian Tradition
The sausage open-sandwich, consisting of a thin sausage wrapped in a slice of white bread with cooked onions on top, is a beloved part of Australian culture. It is commonly found at school fairs, open-air markets, and Bunnings hardware stores on weekends. Anni Turnbull, a Powerhouse collection curator specializing in the Australian culinary archive, notes that democracy sausages—sold outside polling booths on election day—are an edible manifestation of the idea of 'a fair go'.
New Zealand's Claim to Fame
First reported by The Spinoff, the New Zealand publication argued that the nation not only hosted the world's first sausage sizzle but also invented the snack. This claim is based on archival newspaper evidence from both New Zealand and Australia. The earliest documented use of the term 'sausage sizzle' in New Zealand dates back to 1942, when Beryl Menzies threw a 'Popular Girl sausage sizzle' in an attempt to become Hamilton's most popular girl. These contests were community-run events used to raise funds for wartime charities.
In contrast, the earliest documented use of the term in Australia was in 1946, when the Forbes Junior Country Women's Association organized a 'Full Moon Sausage Sizzle' to collect non-perishable supplies for post-war recovery efforts in England. This occurred four years after New Zealand's first use of the phrase.
Expert Opinions on the Origins
Barbara Santich, author of Bold Palates: Australia's Gastronomic Heritage, acknowledges that New Zealand's claim as the birthplace of the sausage sizzle is not entirely unfounded. However, she points out that Australia was doing similar things under the American borrowing of 'barbecue'.
Jacqui Newling, culinary historian and curator at the Museums of History NSW, adds: 'Often it's not who did it first, it's who wrote it down first.' She notes that a sausage sizzle in spirit, though not in name, was first reported in Australia in 1939. Referred to as a 'sausage buffet', it was part of a Guy Fawkes celebration in Adelaide, raising funds for the Winston Dugan camp. Although the news clipping describes 'sausages sizzling', a buffet is not the same as a sizzle. 'It's got to have the terminology,' says Newling.
Turnbull humorously remarks: 'When I think of a sausage buffet, I just see a table filled with sausages and jelly.'
Democracy Sausages: An Australian Staple
At the very least, Australians can wholeheartedly stake a claim to democracy sausages. In New Zealand, election day sandwiches are not as common and are usually offered for free by community groups—though the government has vowed to enforce a ban on free food within 100 meters of a polling booth.
Community and Culinary Heritage
Newling enjoys how these conversations highlight the commonalities between the two nations. Only in Australia and New Zealand would people expect a sausage in a slice of bread as opposed to a roll. There is also a distinct antipodean role that sausage sizzles play in building community. 'You don't kind of go out and have a sausage sizzle on your own,' says Newling.
While this certainly won't be the last time Australia and New Zealand squabble over a basic dish, Newling says that these debates keep shared food heritage alive. 'I think it's a really lovely thing.'
