Australia Flag

Australia: National Flag

Advance Australia Fair

“Advance Australia Fair” is the national anthem of Australia. Written by Scottish-born composer Peter Dodds McCormick, the song was first performed as a patriotic song in Australia in 1878. It replaced “God Save the Queen” as the official national anthem in 1974, following a nationwide opinion survey, only for “God Save the Queen” to be reinstated in January 1976. However, a plebiscite to choose the national song in 1977 preferred “Advance Australia Fair”, which was in turn reinstated as the national anthem in 1984. “God Save the King/Queen” became known as the royal anthem, and is used at public engagements attended by the King or members of the British royal family. The lyrics of the 1984 version of “Advance Australia Fair” were modified from McCormick’s original and its verses were trimmed down from four to two. In January 2021, the lyrics were changed once again.

Source: Australia National Anthem