Australian National Anthem

Australian National Anthem is "Advance Australia Fair".

It was written by Peter Dodds McCormick - a Scottish born composer in Australia.


The song was first performed in 1878 in Sydney, but used to be just a partiotic song, snd didn't become the national anthem until 1977.

McCormick wrote the song pretty much on a bus home from a concert of the world's national anthems where Australia was not represented.

The song was often used but not chosen as the official national anthem until in the 1970s there was a competition, with other suggestions being Waltzing Matilda (the inofficial national anthem to this day), and Song of Australia.

The lyrics go:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young 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.

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