General Information

Advance Australia Fair

• Advance Australia Fair
• Waltzing Maltilda by Banjo Paterson
• Song of Australia by Linger

Advance Australia Fair polled 51.4%, prompting the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, to announce that it would become our national anthem

In 1977 a plebiscite for a national song was conducted and over seven million people were issued with ballot paper, resulting in Advance Australia Fair being chosen as the preferred option.

In April 1984 the Governor-General issued a proclamation declaring that 'God Save the Queen' (which is usually played at the start of Royal functions), was designated the Royal Anthem, to be played at public engagements in Australia attended by the Queen or members of the Royal family. Advance Australia Fair (which is usually played at the end of Royal functions), was finally declared to be the national anthem, and is sung at all major events where Australia is represented throughout the world.

"Advance Australia Fair"

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.

Advance Australia Fair - Julie Anthony
MP3 download - 1.12 MB

Advance Australia Fair - Royal Australian Air Force Central Band
MP3 download - 1.5 MB

Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda is recognised as Australia's " unofficial" national anthem. It is one of the nation's most loved songs and Banjo Patterson's lyrics certainly strike a chord with many Australians.

Written in 1895, Paterson's song speaks the language of everyday Australians. Its informality, simplicity and upbeat melody - the very qualities that gave it such broad appeal - are also the reasons why many thought it inappropriate as a national anthem. After all, the critics argue, how can our national anthem celebrate the theft of a sheep?

In 1903, Marie Cowan arranged a version of 'Waltzing Matilda' for James Inglis & co. Ltd, with an advertisement for Billy Tea on the back cover.

This first published version of the song is the one most generally known today. Marie Cowan is named on the sheet music as the 'arranger' of the song, with words by A.B.Paterson, promoted as the author of 'The Man from Snowy River'.

"Waltzing Matilda"

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong,
Under the shade of a coolibah tree,
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,
" Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled,
" Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?"

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong:
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee.
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker-bag,
" You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker-bag,
" You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."

Up rode a squatter, mounted on his thoroughbred;
Down came the troopers, one, two, three:
" Who's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.
Who's that jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!"

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong;
" You'll never catch me alive!" said he;
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
" You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!"
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong,
" You'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me!"

• swagman: an intinerant farmhand, carrying his "swag" (his blankets) rolled into a cylinder
• billabong: a creek (normally with a pronounced "oxbow" bend)
• coolibah tree: a eucalypt (gum) tree )
• waited till his billy boiled: a billy is a tin can used to heat water over a campfire to make tea
• jumbuck: sheep
• tucker-bag: bag or box used to store food
• squatter: farmer/grazier who simply found good land and took possession; some became extremely rich.
• trooper: policeman or soldier on horseback