Advance Australia Fair | National Anthem, History, & Changes | Britannica (original) (raw)

Find out how “Advance Australia Fair” and not “Waltzing Matilda” became Australia's national anthemLearn how “Advance Australia Fair,” and not Banjo Paterson's “Waltzing Matilda,” became the national anthem of Australia.

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“Advance Australia Fair”The first verse of the national anthem of Australia, “Advance Australia Fair”; performed by Dami Im and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Advance Australia Fair, national anthem of Australia, adopted on April 19, 1984. It was first officially proposed in 1974 to replace “God Save the Queen,” which had been the national anthem from 1788 to 1974 and which, in 1984, was designated the royal anthem, to be played at public appearances of members of the British royal family.

The original music and lyrics were composed by a Scottish-born Australian, Peter Dodds McCormick (1834?–1916), and first performed in Sydney in 1878. In 1977, in a countrywide public opinion poll to choose a national tune, “Advance Australia Fair” won out over three other contenders, including “Waltzing Matilda.” Some of the original words, however, have been altered for the official version—including the first line, changed from “Australia’s sons, let us rejoice” to “Australians all let us rejoice.” In 2021 the second line was changed from “For we are young and free” to “For we are one and free” to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their history.

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.”

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by J.E. Luebering.