A Taste of Sounds of Australia

Here are 25 of the Sounds of Australia: recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance.

Each year, the Australian public nominates new sounds to be added with final selections determined by a panel of industry experts.

See the complete Sounds of Australia list.

Took the Children Away by Archie Roach

Although not the first song about the enforced separation of Indigenous children from their families, Archie Roach’s song, based on his own life and experience, was released at a time when there wa

The Nosebleed Section by Hilltop Hoods

Adelaide hip-hop artists Hilltop Hoods first gained widespread attention with this track in 2003, which propelled the album The Calling to become the first Australian hip-hip CD to be awar

The Aeroplane Jelly Song by Joy King

A popular radio jingle advertising an Australian brand of jelly crystals. The song was recorded in 1938 and broadcast on Sydney radio in the 1940s – up to 100 times a day.

Close up of a koala sitting in a branch looking directly at the camera.

Bird and Animal Calls of Australia: Male koala grunting

The voice-over announces 'the male koala grunting’. We hear a series of deep-voiced grunts similar to the sounds of a large pig.

Summary by Maryanne Doyle

Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young

An international hit for John Paul Young in 1978, ‘Love Is in the Air’ reached No. 3 on the Australian charts, No. 5 in the UK and No. 7 in the US.

From Little Things (Big Things Grow) by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody

Kevin Carmody and Paul Kelly discuss the song 'From Little Things Big Things Grow’.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

It's A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) by AC/DC

TNT was the second studio album from AC/DC and defined their style of hard edged, riff-based rock music.

Not Pretty Enough by Kasey Chambers

‘Not Pretty Enough’ was the third single from Kasey Chambers’ second album Barricades & Brickwalls.

Fanny Cochrane Smith’s Tasmanian Aboriginal Songs

In this recording, Fanny Cochrane Smith talks about being the last of the Tasmanians. She then sings in both English and her own language.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

Island Home by Christine Anu

Christine Anu’s, Island Home was released in 1995, as the second single from her debut studio album, Stylin' Up.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

I Still Call Australia Home by Peter Allen

While I Still Call Australia Home reached only No. 72 on the charts when it was first released, it has become firmly cemented in the national consciousness.

Sampling Sounds: Fairlight CMI

The Fairlight CMI was the world’s first polyphonic digital sampling synthesizer, invented in 1979 by Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, based on a dual-6800 microprocessor created by Tony Furs

Black and white portrait of Thomas Rome wearing hat and tie

The Hen Convention by Thomas Rome

Vocalist John James Villiers, with piano accompaniment, performs a song which features imitations of chooks.

Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car by The Wiggles

Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car is the title track from the ninth album by The Wiggles, Toot Toot, released in 1998.

We Are Going by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker)

In this clip, Oodgeroo Noonuccal reads her poem ‘We Are Going’ in full to an appreciative audience at the Harold Park Hotel in Sydney in 1986.

Summary by Michael Weir

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

Chant Vénitien by Dame Nelle Melba

Dame Nellie Melba’s early recording of 'Chant Vénitien’, a song composed by Herman Bemberg, who accompanies her in this recording.

The Recordings of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits by Alfred Cort Haddon and others

A man, identified by British Library records as ‘Maino of Yam’, sings a traditional song entitled Yamaz Sibarud. He sings the song a capella.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

Keating Speech: The Redfern Address

This clip is in three parts:

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following clip may contain images and voices of deceased persons

Don’t Change by INXS

‘Don’t Change’ was released as a single from INXS’ third album Shabooh Shoobah, in October 1982.

Our Don Bradman by Len Maurice

An iconic Depression-era popular song, ‘Our Don Bradman’ pays tribute to one of Australia’s greatest cricketers, Sir Donald Bradman.

Dame Enid Lyons: Maiden Speech

Dame Enid Lyons reads her maiden speech, originally presented in the House of Representatives in Canberra on 29 September 1943.

Summary Maryanne Doyle

Louie the fly from the 1962 animated Mortein pest spray TV advertisement

'Louie the Fly' Mortein Jingle

‘Louie the Fly’ first appeared on Australian television in 1957, going on to become one of the most recognisable characters in Australian advertising.

C’mon Aussie C’mon by The Mojo Singers

This chart-topping single was originally written as a 60-second jingle by Mojo advertising executives to promote the second season of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket for the Nine Television Net

Recording of a Superb Lyrebird at Healesville, Victoria

Lyrebirds are great mimics, copying many sounds in their environment. In nature this consists predominantly of other birds.

Menzies Speech: Declaration of War

There is no audible ceremony on Menzies’s arrival in the room, just a short introduction by another speaker. Menzies settles at the microphone and we hear a faint rustle of his papers.

Sounds of Australia

A Taste of Sounds of Australia

Took the Children Away by Archie Roach

The Nosebleed Section by Hilltop Hoods

The Aeroplane Jelly Song by Joy King

Bird and Animal Calls of Australia: Male koala grunting

Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young

From Little Things (Big Things Grow) by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody

It's A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) by AC/DC

Not Pretty Enough by Kasey Chambers

Fanny Cochrane Smith’s Tasmanian Aboriginal Songs

Island Home by Christine Anu

I Still Call Australia Home by Peter Allen

Sampling Sounds: Fairlight CMI

The Hen Convention by Thomas Rome

Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car by The Wiggles

We Are Going by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker)

Chant Vénitien by Dame Nelle Melba

The Recordings of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits by Alfred Cort Haddon and others

Keating Speech: The Redfern Address

Don’t Change by INXS

Our Don Bradman by Len Maurice

Dame Enid Lyons: Maiden Speech

'Louie the Fly' Mortein Jingle

C’mon Aussie C’mon by The Mojo Singers

Recording of a Superb Lyrebird at Healesville, Victoria

Menzies Speech: Declaration of War

More to Explore

Sounds of Australia 2016

The Sounds of Australia

Early record sleeves