Entertainment · Music · 2 hrs ago
Australia names first 10 songs for National Songbook
Australia has inducted its first 10 songs into a new National Songbook, a digital archive intended to preserve music that has shaped the country’s cultural identity.
The archive was launched in Canberra by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and music rights organisation APRA AMCOS.
An expert panel selected the songs, including Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning,” Yothu Yindi’s “Treaty,” Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” and the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind.”
The list also includes “Waltzing Matilda,” whose lyrics date to 1895, and the Presets’ 2008 song “My People.”
The choices span protest, identity and personal stories, reflecting more than a century of Australian songwriting.
Organisers say the archive will safeguard the songs and their stories for future generations.
More songs are expected as the annual project grows, though no further selections are specified.
Australia launched its National Songbook on Wednesday, 4 November, with 10 songs selected as its first inductees.
The digital archive is a joint initiative of APRA AMCOS and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
The songs include “Beds Are Burning,” “Treaty,” “I Am Woman,” “Friday on My Mind” and “Waltzing Matilda.”
An 11-member panel of music experts selected the inaugural songs.
The project aims to preserve music that has helped shape Australia’s cultural identity.
- Who
- APRA AMCOS and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia launched the National Songbook. An 11-member panel selected the first 10 songs.
- What
- Ten songs were inducted into a new digital archive celebrating and preserving Australian music.
- When
- Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
- Where
- The launch took place at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.
- Why
- The archive aims to preserve songs that have shaped Australia’s cultural identity and stories.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Andrew “Banjo” Paterson wrote the lyrics to “Waltzing Matilda,” later set to music by Christina Macpherson.
A recording of “Waltzing Matilda” was released, according to the Guardian.
The National Songbook launched in Canberra and announced its first 10 inductees.
- First inductees
- 10 songs
- Selection panel
- 11 music experts
- Launch venue
- National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra
- Oldest song
- Waltzing Matilda
- Most recent song
- The Presets’ “My People” (2008)
- Songbook partners
- APRA AMCOS and NFSA
2 sources
What people are saying
There’s no such thing as a definitive list when it comes to music – you can never capture everyone’s taste – but I hope people see at least one song on there and see themselves reflected in the list
The National Songbook reflects the remarkable breadth of Australian songwriting and composition, from songs of protest, belonging and identity to works that have become woven into our national story and our DNA
No ten songs could ever tell the whole story of Australia, but together these inaugural inductees help us understand, as a nation, where we’ve come from, who we are and the values we’ve carried through generations.
I’m proud to be part of the song.