Australian National Anthem
Advance Australia Fair

The Australian National Anthem is Advance Australia Fair.

When I was in school and you got to sing the Anthem in the mornings it was God Save The Queen; I'm not even sure if kids do this any more; I left school years ago, and well let's face it even my boys left school years ago (showing my age here)...

In 1973 Australia began looking for an Anthem to replace that one as God Save The Queen was the Anthem of the United Kingdom.

The final choice was made from three songs:

• Advance Australia Fair
• Waltzing Matilda
• And Song of Australia

The Bureau of Statistics ran a national poll of 60,000 people and 'Advance Australia Fair' was chosen by over 50 per cent of those people. 'Waltzing Matilda got just over 19 per cent of the vote.

In 1977 A further national poll of over 7 million people was held to determine the people's choice; This time 'Advance Australia Fair' got just over 43% of the vote, 'Maltzing Matilda' got just over 28%, 'God Save The Queen' got nearly 19% and 'Song Of Australia' got about 9.5%.

Waltzing Matilda would have got my vote but probably wouldn't have been the greatest choice considering it's about a bloke stealing a sheep and camping by a billabong; perhaps not the best image to use on the world stage to represent Australia but I like it and I'm sure a lot of other Aussie's do too.

Advance Australia Fair was officially proclaimed as the National Anthem in 1984.

Australian National Anthem Lyrics

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.

Just click on this link to the Australian Government for more about The Australian National Anthem.