New lyrics for verse one
From 1 January 2021, the second line of the Australian National Anthem was changed from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are one and free’.
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.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.
Download a printable word sheet
Download a printable music score
History
The original composition of 'Advance Australia Fair' was written by Peter Dodds McCormick in 1878 and was four verses long.
In 1973 the Australia Council for the Arts held the Australian National Anthem Quest competition to find the lyrics and music for a new Australian National Anthem.
The competition received more than 1400 entries for lyrics and 1200 entries for music, but the judges decided the entries did not meet the high standards of Australia’s traditional songs ‘Advance Australia Fair’, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘Song of Australia’.
As a result, the Australia Council for the Arts recommended the final choice for the Anthem should be made from these three songs.
The Bureau of Statistics then ran a national poll of 60 000 people, which found ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was favoured by 51.4 per cent of people, followed by ‘Waltzing Matilda’ (19.6 per cent).
In 1974 ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was adopted as the Australian National Anthem, but in 1976 ‘God Save The Queen’ was reinstated.
In 1977 the Australian Electoral Office conducted another poll, which again found ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was the preferred anthem (43.6 per cent), followed by ‘Waltzing Matilda (28.45 percent).
In 1981 the National Australia Day Council recommended the Australian National Anthem consist of verses one and two of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ with some modification.
On 19 April 1984 the then Governor-General, the Rt Hon Sir Ninian M Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE, proclaimed the Australian National Anthem the tune of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and the verses drafted by the National Australia Day Council. At the same time, ‘God Save The Queen’ was first proclaimed as the Royal Anthem.
From 1 January 2021, the words of the second line of the Australian National Anthem were amended from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are one and free’, by Proclamation made by the Governor General, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), on the Government’s advice.
Other anthems
The Royal Anthem
‘God Save The King’ was proclaimed as the Royal Anthem on 27 October 2022.
At official and ceremonial occasions, the Royal Anthem is used when His Majesty The King or a member of the Royal Family is present.
When The King is in Australia, the Royal Anthem is played at the beginning of an official engagement and the Australian National Anthem is played at the end. On some occasions it may be appropriate to play both anthems at the beginning of the engagement.
There are no restrictions on singing or using the Royal Anthem at a community event irrespective of any member of the Royal Family being present.
When the Royal Anthem is played at a ceremony or public event it is customary to stand.
The Vice-Regal salute
The Vice-Regal salute was proclaimed in 1984. It is the first four bars and last four bars of the Australian National Anthem and is used in the presence of the Governor-General.
It is customary to stand when the Vice-Regal salute is played at a ceremony or public event.
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