<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> "Advance Australia Fair" is the national anthem of Australia . Created by the Scottish - born composer Peter Dodds McCormick, the song was first performed in 1878 and sung in Australia as a patriotic song . It replaced "God Save the Queen" as the official national anthem in 1984, following a plebiscite to choose the national song in 1977 . Other songs and marches have been influenced by "Advance Australia Fair", such as the Australian vice-regal salute . </P> <P> "Advance Australia Fair" was composed in the late 19th century by Peter Dodds McCormick under the pen - name "Amicus" (which means "friend" in Latin). It was first performed by Andrew Fairfax at a Highland Society function in Sydney on 30 November 1878 . The song quickly gained popularity and an amended version was sung by a choir of around 10,000 at the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901 . In 1907 the Australian Government awarded McCormick £ 100 for his composition . </P>

When did advance australia fair become the national anthem