Advance Australia Fair
The National Anthem of Australia

You are at Advance Australia Fair.org, this website is presented out of respect for the National Anthem of Australia, and the values it contains. In it you will find popular and rare renditions of the anthem in MP3's and Video form, as well as information about its author, Peter Dodds McCormick, and history involved with the song.

Of course, you are welcome to leave your feedback, ideas, and corrections at this form.

This page contains the following sections: Videos, Mp3's, Alternative Anthems, Author, History, Lyrics, Usage, Tweets, Resources

"Advance Australia Fair" Videos

Other: Advance Australia Fair - Anna-Maria La Spina performs the national anthem of Australia at the 2003 Lexmark Indy 300 car race held on 26 October 2003.

Go to top

"Advance Australia Fair" MP3s

Below is music in the MP3 format, of vocal, and instrumental respectively.

Instrumental Mp3's

1. Advance Australia Fair (Instrumental) - Royal Australian Air Force Central Band
2. Advance Australia Fair (Instrumental) - US Navy
3. Advance Australia Fair (Salute) - US Navy
4. Advance Australia Fair Instrumental (Unknown)from Here

Vocal and Instrumental Mp3's

1. Advance Australia Fair (Vocal) - From It's an Honour
2. Advance Australia Fair (Vocal) - Julie Anthony
3. Advance Australia Fair (Olympic Podium Instrumental) - Royal Australia Navy Band
4. Advance Australia Fair (Original Lyrics) - Australian singer Peter Dawson (c. 1930)

Choir Mp3's

1. Advance Australia Fair (Choir and Instrumental) - From It's an Honour

Midi format

1. Midi Version

Go to top

Alternative Proposed Anthems

• 'Australia' - Erin Collins & friends
• Anthem to the tune Jimmy Barnes' "Working Class Man" - Adam Hills

Go to top

Advance Australia Fair - Author: Peter Dodds McCormick

Peter Dodds McCormick wrote Advance Australia Fair.

Peter Dodds McCormick was born in Port Glasgow, Scotland some time in 1834, He arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1855 and become a public school teacher in New South Wales. In 1863 He was promoted to headmaster of Saint Mary's National School, after which he taught at the Presbyterian denominational school in Woolloomooloo in 1867. Peter moved to Dowling Plunkett Street Public School in 1878 to 1885.

A community minded man, McCormick was heavily involved in the Scottish Presbyterian Church and was active in a number of community and benevolent organisations. While working as a stonemason on St Stephen's Church in Sydney, his singing left an Impression on The Rev Hugh Darling, and was invited to join the choir, which he excelled at and eventually conducted very large choirs as the precentor of the Presbyterian Church of NSW.

Peter Dodds McCormick was a gifted composer with around 30 patriotic tunes to his name, including "Advance Australia Fair". The song was first performed in public on November 30, 1878 - Although not the National Anthem at that time it was performed by Andrew Fairfax at the St Andrew's Day concert of the Highland Society.

Advance Australia Fair grew popular and received high acclaim by the press, it was was published by W. H. Paling & Co. Ltd. under the pseudonym "Amicus" (latin for friend).

As the soon-to be national anthem of Australia became more popular it was performed at official government functions including being sung by 10,000 voice choir at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. In 1907, the New South Wales Government awarded McCormick £100 for his patriotic composition which he registered for copyright in 1915.

Below is a quote from a letter McCormick wrote to R. B. Fuller Esq., dated 1 August 1913.

"One night I attended a great concert in the Exhibition Building, when all the National Anthems of the world were to be sung by a large choir with band accompaniment. This was very nicely done, but I felt very aggravated that there was not one note for Australia. On the way home in a bus, I concocted the first verse of my song and when I got home I set it to music. I first wrote it in the Tonic Sol-fa notation, then transcribed it into the old notation, and I tried it over on an instrument next morning, and found it correct. Strange to say there has not been a note of it altered since. Some alteration has been made in the wording, but the sense is the same. It seemed to me to be like an inspiration, and I wrote the words & music with the greatest ease."

In 1916 Peter Dodds McCormick died in his home in Waverley, NSW, Australia, leaving no children, but his 2nd wife Emma.

Printed in the Sydney Morning Herald his obituary was as follows:

"Mr. McCormick established a reputation with the patriotic song, Advance Australia Fair, which ... has come to be recognised as something in the nature of an Australian National Anthem"

Peter Dodds McCormick is buried at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney, Australia.

Go to top

Advance Australia Fair - History/Timeline

• 1740 - "God Save The Queen", the English National Anthem was composed by Henry Carey and first sung by him.
• 1788 - The first fleet Sails to Australia, Australia's National Anthem was in fact the British National Anthem, "God Save The Queen."
• 1878 - The original composition of 'Advance Australia Fair' was written by Peter Dodds McCormick and consisted of four verses.
• 1878 - Advance Australia Fair first performed in Sydney on Saint Andrew's Day
• 1901 - An amended version was also sung by a choir of 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia on (1 January 1901).
• 1840 - The first competition to find a National Anthem for Australia.
• 1907 - The Australian Government awarded McCormick £100 for his composition.
• 1916 - Peter McCormick Dies in Sydney.
• 1966 - Copyright Expires; The Commonwealth of Australia, however, does copyright the officially proclaimed lyrics and particular arrangements of music. Non-commercial public use of the anthem is permitted, but commercial use requires permission.
• 1973 - The Australian National Anthem Quest was held by the Australia Council for the Arts for a distinctively Australian national anthem. The first stage for lyrics attracted more than 1400 entries. The second stage for music received 1200 entries. A prize of $5,000 was offered for each stage. The judges decided the entries did not meet the high standards of Australia’s traditional songs 'Advance Australia Fair', 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'Song of Australia' and recommending the final choice for national anthem be made from these three songs.
• 1974 - Public opinion poll sampled an estimated 60 000 people to select from three possible anthems: 'Advance Australia Fair', 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'Song of Australia'. 'Advance Australia Fair' polled 51.4 per cent. Following this result the then Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, announced that 'Advance Australia Fair' would be the national anthem, except on specifically Royal occasions, when both it and 'God Save the Queen' would be played.
• 1976 - After a change of government, 'God Save the Queen' was reinstated for Royal, vice-regal, defence and loyal toast occasions, with 'Advance Australia Fair' to be played on all other official occasions.
• 1977 - A national poll was conducted by the Australian Electoral Office to ascertain the public choice of a national song. This time more than seven million people were issued with ballot papers. The results were: 'Advance Australia Fair' 43.2 per cent, 'Waltzing Matilda' 28.3 per cent, 'God Save the Queen' 18.7 per cent and 'Song of Australia' 9.6 per cent. Despite the poll results, adoption of the new national anthem met widespread opposition.
• 1981 the National Australia Day Council recommended that the Australian National Anthem consist of two verses of ‘Advance Australia Fair ‘with some modification.
• 1984 - "Advance Australia Fair" - Was proclaimed as the national anthem of Australia by Governor-General, the Rt Hon Sir Ninian M Stephen KG AK. Except in the actual presence of Her Majesty (or a member of the Royal Family), the "Advance Australia Fair (Salute)" is to be played for loyal toasts and toasts to the Colonel-in-Chief where Her Majesty or another member of the Royal Family holds that appointment. "Advance Australia Fair" will be played in its entirety for all other official ceremonies.(19th April 1984)

Go to top

Advance Australia Fair - Lyrics

The Lyrics to Advance Australia Fair are in free-form notation, the first, and the third are usually the only verses sung.

Switch between popular, and original versions.

Verse 1

• 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.

Verse 3

• 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.

Go to top

Use of the National Anthem of Australia

Protocols

The National Anthem of Australia is to be used during all official and ceremonial occasions, however when in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, or a member of the Royal Family, the Royal Anthem (God Save the Queen) must be used.

While Her Majesty The Queen is in Australia, play the Royal Anthem at the beginning of an official engagement, and the Australian National Anthem at the end. Sometimes it is appropriate to play both anthems at the beginning.

If playing the anthems of two countries together, always play the Anthem of the visiting country first.

Both verses of the National Anthem may be used, however it is traditional to only use the first verse.

The Australian National Anthem should not be modified and alternative words should not be used.

Copyright

Even though any copyright of Peter Dodds McCormick' original lyrics has expired as he died in 1916, the Commonwealth of Australia does copyright the officially proclaimed lyrics and particular arrangements of music. Non-commercial use of the anthem is permitted without case-by-case permission, but commercial use does require permission.

Go to top

Tweets

• And it's Advance Australia Fair NOT Waltzing Matilda Jimmy! #true
• @sarahmtmonahan Advance Australia Fair.... hiccup.
• RT @Pelvicfloorexer: This is brilliant Aussies will get it - rest of world prob not ! Advance Australia Fair to tune of Working Class Man http://t.co/1MZTx4su
• This is brilliant Aussies will get it - rest of world prob not ! Advance Australia Fair to tune of Working Class Man http://t.co/1MZTx4su
• @Krustylicious ...Advance Australia Fair
• I'm only a day late in writing about Australia Day... Advance Australia Fair? http://t.co/bZXL4H4n #asylumseekers
• RT @Marajax: OMG the last note @JackVidgen sang in Advance Australia Fair lasted longer than Kim Kardasians marridge
• OMG the last note @JackVidgen sang in Advance Australia Fair lasted longer than Kim Kardasians marridge
• @mlawrence_11 hello! In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia fair! * off!
• Better late than never... a post about Australia Day http://t.co/bZXL4H4n
• I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/YabMRoqe Adam Hills Advance Australia Fair
• @JillianC88 Well, Chris Evens played "Advance Australia Fair" in his BBC Radio 2 show this morning. Should have been "Waltzing Matilda" :)
• @lexawkward watch the Adam Hills version of Advance Australia Fair on YouTube - should have wheeled it out yesterday
• Suenan Advance Australia Fair y el Himno Nacional Argentino
• Here is a tweet I thought I sent earlier... Advance Australia fair. http://t.co/g6JcCyEF

Go to top

Links and resources

External Websites

• It's an Honour - Australian Government Website about Australian symbols
• Images of Australia article
• Genesis networks article.
• Ettamogah article
• Humorous article about the meaning of the Anthem
• Lachlan Cranswick's homepage

National Anthem Fact Sheets

• DFAT Article about the national Anthem
• Fact sheedt (PDF) - (It's an Honour)

Musical Scores, sheet music, and notation.

• Full Score - Arranged by Christopher Gordon - Commissioned by THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
• Vocal Score - Arranged by Christopher Gordon - Commissioned by THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
• Words and Music
• Words Sheet
• Brass Band Score - Arranged by Squadron Leader M.A. Butcher, Director of music - Air Force.

How to link to this Website

We appreciate any and all links to this website, we routinely find them, and return a link to any website is on the same subject, if you wish to link to Advance Australia Fair, please copy the HTML code below, and place it in your website.

<a href="http://advanceaustraliafair.org">Advance Australia Fair - Australia's National Anthem - Mp3s, Videos, History, and Author.</a>
Go to top