Australia National Anthem
Advance Australia Fair
1878
1984
Peter Dodds McCormick
Peter Dodds McCormick
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Key Facts
- 1. McCormick's original song had four verses. The official anthem keeps a revised first verse and, as its second, a verse from a version written for Federation in 1901; McCormick's own second verse, about Captain Cook raising 'old England's flag', was dropped.
- 2. At the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the anthem was sung by Julie Anthony and the vocal group Human Nature, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
- 3. In the 1977 national song poll, 'Advance Australia Fair' led on first preferences with 43.6%, ahead of 'Waltzing Matilda' (28.5%), 'God Save the Queen' (18.7%) and 'Song of Australia' (9.7%); it won after preferences were distributed.
Australia National Anthem Lyrics
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Peter Dodds McCormick, a Scottish-born composer, in the late 1870s. It was first adopted as the national anthem in 1974, but in 1976 'God Save the Queen' was reinstated; after a 1977 national song poll chose it over 'Waltzing Matilda', 'God Save the Queen' and 'Song of Australia', it was proclaimed the national anthem in 1984. On 1 January 2021 the second line was changed from 'for we are young and free' to 'for we are one and free', to recognise that the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples stretches back tens of thousands of years.
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Sources & References
- Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (Australia's national anthem, p. 16) . Department of Home Affairs, Australian Government (2024)
- nl.wikisource.org: Advance Australia Fair . nl.wikisource.org
Source & Review
- Source status
- Official source verified
- Translation
- Nationalia working translation
- Rights status
- Third-party rights may apply
- Last reviewed
- Editorial review
- Pending
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- Nationalia
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