Australian High Commission
New Zealand
High Commission address: 72-76 Hobson Street, Thorndon, Wellington - Telephone: +64 (0)4 473 6411 - Fax: +64 (0)4 498 7135

Australia's National Anthem

Advance Australia Fair was made Australia's national anthem after many of national opinion.

In 1974 the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted a national opinion poll of 60,000 and in 1977 a plebiscite for a national song was conducted.

On each occasion, Advance Australia Fair was the preferred option, and as such Advance Australia Fair was made the national anthem by the Governor-General on 19 April 1984.

"NATIONAL ANTHEM"

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.


Related weblinks -
• Listen to the National Anthem at the Prime Minister's website -
http://www.pm.gov.au  
• A good site for more information - http://www.hamilton.net.au/advance.html
• More information on the history of the anthem -
http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/nat_anthem.html