On 19 April 1770, Captain Cook’s Endeavour sighted mainland Australia. As Cook recorded in his journal:
I have named it Point Hicks, because Leuit Hicks [sic] was the first who discover’d this land…”
On 19 April 1984, Australia adopted Advance Australia Fair as its national anthem. The song has itself provided a national self-discovery of sorts.
The original second verse began:
When gallant Cook from Albion sail’d,
To trace wide oceans o’er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.”
From 19 April 1984, the second verse has begun:
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands…”
From 1879, the song’s first lines were:
Australia’s sons, let us rejoice,
For we are young and free…”
From 19 April 1984, the first lines were:
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free…”
Since 1 January 2021, the first lines have been:
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free…”
