You’ve heard it at the Olympics. You’ve probably heard it before a footy match. But honestly, most people don’t actually know the weird, winding history behind the australia national anthem song. It wasn't always "Advance Australia Fair." For a long time, Australians were belting out "God Save the Queen" while secretively wishing they had something a bit more... homegrown.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Australia didn't even have its own official anthem until 1984. That’s late. Like, "CDs were already a thing" late.
The Schoolteacher and the Bus Ride
The whole thing started with a Scottish-born schoolteacher named Peter Dodds McCormick. The story goes that in 1878, he went to a concert of "national" songs from around the world. He got home and felt pretty annoyed—or "aggravated," as he put it—that there wasn't a decent song for Australia.
So, he did what any frustrated creative does. He wrote one.
He actually scribbled the first verse of the australia national anthem song on the bus ride home. He published it under the pen name "Amicus," which is Latin for "friend." It was first performed in Sydney on July 12, 1878, at a Loyal Orange Lodge ceremony. It wasn't an instant national hit, but it started to stick.
Why We Fired the British Anthem
For most of the 20th century, "God Save the Queen" (or King) was the official go-to. It was played in cinemas. It was sung at school assemblies. But as Australia started to find its own feet, the British anthem started to feel a bit like wearing your older brother's hand-me-down suit. It just didn't fit.
In the 1970s, things got messy. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam wanted a change. He ran a contest in 1973 to find a new song, but the judges basically hated all 2,500 entries. They eventually just picked three existing songs and asked the public:
- "Advance Australia Fair"
- "Waltzing Matilda"
- "Song of Australia"
"Advance Australia Fair" won with about 51% of the vote. But then, politics happened. The government changed, and the new guy, Malcolm Fraser, brought back the Queen's anthem for official stuff.
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It took another poll in 1977 and another change of government before Bob Hawke finally pulled the trigger in 1984. On April 19, "Advance Australia Fair" was officially proclaimed. "God Save the Queen" was relegated to "Royal Anthem" status, only to be played when the royals are actually in the room.
The 2021 Tweak: Why One Word Mattered
You might have noticed the lyrics sound a bit different lately. On January 1, 2021, the government changed one single word.
It used to be "For we are young and free."
Now it’s "For we are one and free."
Why? Because saying Australia is "young" is, frankly, factually wrong. While the modern nation-state is young, the First Nations people have been here for over 65,000 years. Calling the country "young" felt like a slap in the face to the world's oldest continuous living culture.
The change was a small but massive symbolic nod to Indigenous Australians. Not everyone was happy—some felt it was tokenistic, others didn't like "tinkering" with tradition—but it’s the version we sing today.
What You’re Actually Singing (The Lyrics)
Most Aussies only know the first verse. If you ask someone to sing the second verse of the australia national anthem song, you’ll probably get a blank stare. Here is what the official version looks like now:
Verse 1
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.
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Verse 2
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 "Waltzing Matilda" Debate
We can't talk about the anthem without mentioning the sheep-stealing elephant in the room. A huge chunk of the population still thinks "Waltzing Matilda" should have been the anthem.
It’s more catchy. It’s iconic.
But, let's be real: it’s a song about a guy who steals a sheep (a jumbuck) and then drowns himself in a billabong to avoid going to jail. It’s a great folk song, but as a national anthem? Probably a bit too chaotic for diplomatic dinners.
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Actionable Tips for Using the Anthem
If you're organizing an event or just want to be "that person" who knows the rules, here are some quick pointers:
- Protocol: You don't actually have to stand, but it’s considered respectful. Men are traditionally expected to remove their hats.
- Commercial Use: You can't just slap the anthem on a beer commercial without asking. You need permission from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for commercial use.
- Performance: If you're singing it, keep it simple. The "pop star" version with too many vocal riffs usually goes down like a lead balloon at a footy final.
The australia national anthem song is a living document. It has changed with the country’s identity and likely will again. Whether you love the tune or think it’s a bit dated, it’s the soundtrack to the nation's biggest moments.
Next time you hear those opening notes, remember Peter McCormick on that bus in 1878. He just wanted a song that wasn't British. He definitely got his wish.