Advance Australia Fair is the official national anthem of Australia.

History

Advance Australia Fair was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick in the late 19th century, and first performed by Andrew Fairfax at a Highland Society function in Sydney on St Andrew's Day, (30 November 1878). The song quickly gained popularity and an amended version was sung by a choir of 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. In 1907, the Australian Government awarded McCormick £100 for its composition.

Before its adoption as Australia's national anthem, Advance Australia Fair saw considerable use elsewhere. For instance, during World War II, Australia's national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Commission, used it to announce its news bulletins. It was also frequently played at the start or end of official functions.

It emerged as the most popular choice for the national anthem after an opinion poll in 1974 (the Australian Bureau of Statistics polled 60,000 nationally).

At the same time as the 1977 referendum, a national plebiscite was held to choose the National Song. Advance Australia Fair received 43.6% of the vote, fairly convincingly defeating the three alternatives: Waltzing Matilda (28.5%), Song Of Australia (9.7%), and the then-current national anthem God Save the Queen (18.7%).

Advance Australia Fair was adopted as the national anthem by a 1984 decision of the Labor government of Bob Hawke, although it required a proclamation by the Governor-General for the decision to become official.

Criticisms

The anthem attracts occasional discussion in Australia, with allegations that both the tune and lyrics are mediocre, lacklustre or uninspiring. Another complaint is that it is not as popular or well known as other national songs, particularly Waltzing Matilda. In particular the word "girt" (the passive form of the verb "to gird") meaning 'encircled' or 'surrounded' is criticised as obscure.

The opening of the Sydney Olympic Games highlighted the fact that most of the large audience had no idea of the words of the second verse of the National Anthem.

Alternatives

Other tunes that have gained recognition in the popular mind as patriotic songs include the pop ballad I Still Call Australia Home, by Peter Allen, the reggae-influenced rock song Down Under by band Men At Work, and My Island Home by Neil Murray of The Warumpi Band. Also gaining popularity is I Am Australian by Bruce Woodley (better known as a member of The Seekers).

As part of New Year's Eve 2004 celebrations, Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, commissioned a dance remix of Advance Australia Fair with a verse of Waltzing Matilda in it, receiving mixed reactions. A previous remix of the song, released in 2003 by comedian Adam Hills, set the song lyrics to the music of Jimmy Barnes's Working Class Man.

There lies some ambiguity in the enduring popularity of Waltzing Matilda, which is often regarded as a much finer tune and has been part of the Australian imagination almost since its composition 110 years ago. Many non-Australians simply assume the tune is Australia's anthem. However, Waltzing Matilda's lyrics, detailing the exploits of an itinerant who steals a sheep and then drowns himself in an effort to avoid capture by the police and the local squatter (land-owner), are regarded by some Australians as unsuitable as an expression of Australian values, and, indeed, as unsuitable topics for discussion in a national anthem. Nevertheless, its long-lasting popularity suggests that other Australians have a lingering sense of identification with the romantic figure of the swagman, his precarious existence, his stubborn defiance of authority and his working-class status.

Lyrics

The lyrics of Advance Australia Fair express relatively uncontroversial Australian self-beliefs and aspirations.

For its adoption as the national anthem, the second, fourth, and fifth verses were dropped from the "official" version, as they emphasised the British aspects of Australia's heritage, along with the virtues of Britain, and three lines were changed, in order to promote non-sexist language and to reflect the fact that Australia is no longer a 'youthful Commonwealth'. For example:

• the first line of the first verse: "Australia's sons let us rejoice" to "Australians all let us rejoice".
• verse 3 (verse 2 of official version), line 3 : "To make this youthful Commonwealth" to "To make this Commonwealth of ours".
• verse 3 (verse 2 of official version), line 5 : "For loyal sons beyond the seas" to "For those who've come across the seas".

Advance Australia Fair - The official version

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!"

McCormick's original lyrics

Australia's sons 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!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,

To trace wide oceans o'er,

True British courage bore him on,

Till he landed on our shore.

Then here he raised Old England's flag,

The standard of the brave;

With all her faults we love her still,

"Britannia rules the wave!"

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 youthful Commonwealth

Renowned of all the lands;

For loyal sons beyond 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!"

While other nations of the globe

Behold us from afar,

We'll rise to high renown and shine

Like our glorious southern star;

From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,

Who come our lot to share,

Let all combine with heart and hand

To advance Australia fair!

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,

Or dare a foot to land,

We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore

To guard our native strand;

Britannia then shall surely know,

Beyond wide ocean's roll,

Her sons in fair Australia's land

Still keep a English soul.

In joyful strains then let us sing

"Advance Australia fair!"

Version for religious occasions

An unofficial version of "Advance Australia Fair" with a third, explicitly Christian, verse has been used on some occasions. For instance, it was sung in a special service at St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, on July 10, 2005 with Prime Minister John Howard present. The lyrics of this version of "Advance Australia Fair" are as follows:

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!

With Christ our head and cornerstone, we'll build our nation's might

Whose way and truth and light alone, can guide our path aright

Our lives, a sacrifice of love reflect our Master's care,

With faces turned to heaven above, Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.

Some people think this was the original version, but it was not McCormick's own (see above). The third, explicitly Christian verse was written by an unknown author late in the 20th century.

Media

External links

• Brief history
• MIDI File
• Instrumental MP3 (1.5 MB)
• Australia National Anthems In The World All Countries National Anthems
• Vocal MP3 - first verse only (1.12 MB)
• Australian Government websites:
  • Official published words and music with band parts
  • Four-part musical score & words PDF 169 KB
  • Department of Foreign Affair and Trade's webpage on Advance Australia Fair
  • Online scores held by Australian government libraries (The MusicAustralia collaboration)