Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

McCormick, Peter

Composer of Australia's national anthem.

Milestone
Arrived Sydney
Feb 1855
Died
Waverley, Sydney
30 Oct 1916
Buried
31 Oct 1916
Position
1863
1878

McCormick, Peter

CC BY-SA 2.0
,
2008

School teacher and music director for the Presbyterian Church, Peter McCormick is little known in Sydney, although every Sydneysider knows his work. His song, 'Advance Australia Fair', was sung by a choir of 10,000 at the celebration of the inauguration of the Commonwealth in 1901, and was made Australia's national anthem in 1984, long after his death.