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| Australian National Anthem | |
|---|---|
| Title | "Advance Australia Fair" |
| Caption | Commonwealth Coat of Arms |
| Prefix | National |
| Author | Peter Dodds McCormick |
| Lyrics date | 1878 |
| Composer | Peter Dodds McCormick |
| Music date | 1878 |
| Adopted | 1984 |
| Predecessor | "God Save the King" |
| Sound | Advance_Australia_Fair.ogg |
Australian National Anthem
The Australian national anthem is "Advance Australia Fair", a patriotic song by Peter Dodds McCormick first performed in the late 19th century that became the official national anthem of Australia in 1984 after a national competition and parliamentary action. It replaced the royal anthem "God Save the King" following debates in the Australian Parliament, public ballots conducted during the administrations of Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke, and scrutiny by cultural bodies such as the Australian National University and the Australasian Performing Right Association. The anthem functions as a symbol at official events associated with the Commonwealth of Australia, the Parliament of Australia, state parliaments such as the Parliament of New South Wales, and sporting organizations like Cricket Australia, Football Australia, and the Australian Olympic Committee.
"Advance Australia Fair" was composed by Peter Dodds McCormick (pen name "Amicus") and first published and performed in Sydney in 1878 at events linked to organizations including the New South Wales Garrison Artillery and civic celebrations in Victoria (state). Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was sung alongside alternatives such as God Save the King and the patriotic song "Waltzing Matilda", with proponents from institutions like the Royal Military College, Duntroon and commentators in newspapers such as the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age. During both World Wars, public and political figures including William Morris Hughes and Robert Menzies invoked national songs in speeches linked to enlistment drives and commemorations like ANZAC Day, influencing debates recorded in the National Archives of Australia and promoted by organisations including the Returned and Services League of Australia.
The original 1878 lyrics by Peter Dodds McCormick underwent editorial changes and abridgements in publications by printers and sheet music publishers in New South Wales and Victoria. Official versions were examined during the 1977 national anthem survey commissioned by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and later redesigned following a 1984 proclamation by Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen. Alternate arrangements were produced by composers associated with institutions such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the Royal Australian Navy Band, while adaptations appeared in recordings by performers including Slim Dusty, Olivia Newton-John, John Farnham, Midnight Oil, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Bilingual and Indigenous-language renditions involve collaborations with groups like Koomurri and cultural organisations including the Yothu Yindi Foundation and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
Formal adoption followed a process involving the Australian Public Service inquiries, a postal survey under Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser's administration, and parliamentary endorsement under Prime Minister Bob Hawke with proclamation by the Governor-General of Australia acting on advice from the Australian Cabinet. Legal documents held by the Attorney-General's Department and proclamations published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette set out the text and musical arrangement; state governments in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory adopted protocols aligning with federal guidelines. Copyright considerations involved bodies such as the Australasian Performing Right Association and publishers handling early sheet music, and subsequent statutory interpretation referenced statutes administered by the Department of Communications and cultural policy overseen by the Australia Council for the Arts.
Protocol for performance is outlined in guidance issued by the Governor-General's Office, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Australian Federal Police for official ceremonies. The anthem is performed at national ceremonies including sessions of the Parliament of Australia, royal visits by members of the British Royal Family such as Elizabeth II, ceremonies at the Australian War Memorial, school assemblies in systems like the New South Wales Department of Education and the Victorian Department of Education, and international sporting fixtures sanctioned by organisations like FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, and World Athletics. Orchestral and choral arrangements are routinely produced by institutions such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and community choirs supported by local councils.
Public reception has been mixed and observed in polling by agencies including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and cultural studies at the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Griffith University’s cultural research centres. Musicians and public figures including Paul Kelly, Jimmy Little, and activists from organisations such as the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the NATSIAA art prize community have contributed renditions and commentary, while media outlets including ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), SBS (Special Broadcasting Service), and commercial networks covered debates. The anthem features in films and works produced by entities like the Australian Film Commission and is cited in academic discourse at universities such as University of Sydney, Monash University, and University of Melbourne.
Debates involve Indigenous leaders from organisations such as the National Aboriginal Conference, politicians from parties including the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia, and advocacy groups like Reconciliation Australia and the Australian Republican Movement. Criticisms address lines in the lyrics and calls for inclusion or alteration raised during inquiries by commissions including the Human Rights Commission and cultural reviews by the Australia Council for the Arts. Proposals to replace or modify the anthem have been tabled in forums such as the Referendum Council and parliamentary committees including the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, often intersecting with wider constitutional and republican debates involving the Constitution of Australia and discussions about the role of the Monarchy of Australia.
Category:Australian patriotic songs Category:National symbols of Australia