Song of AustraliaPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates the centenary celebrations of the "Song of Australia ".
In 1859 the Gawler Institute offered a prize of ten guineas for a national song, one prize for lyrics and the other for music. Caroline Carleton wrote the words of Song of Australia sitting on a bench in West Terrace cemetery (Adelaide) with her children playing nearby. She asked Carl Linger the Berlin-born music teacher, composer and conductor to set it to music and they won both prizes.
The song was first sung in public at Gawler in December in 1859. The song subsequently became a quasi-national anthem, and until the 1960's it was sung widely at public events and by children at school assemblies in South Australia as a demonstration of national pride.
Song of Australia Performance Gawler 1859Location
| Address: | 91 Murray Street, Gawler Institute Building, Gawler, 5118 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.599428 Long: 138.749847 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Community |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 28-October-1859 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 28-October-1959 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Wednesday 28th October, 1959 |
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There is a land where summer skies
Song of Australia
Words: Caroline Carleton
Music: Carl Linger
A competition for a national song was conducted by the Gawler Institute in 1859
From 96 entries in the lyric section and 23 entries in the musical section the "Song of Australia" selected as the best was first sung in public at Gawler on 12th December 1859
This plaque commemorates the Centenary celebrations
28th October 1959
Celebration Committee
Chairman : Mayor of Gawler Louis Ey. J. P.
President Institute Committee Noel Mclean
Librarian H. A. Heinrich
Honorary Secretary John H. Chambers
