Peter Dods MCCORMICK

MCCORMICK, PETER DODS (b. Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Scotland, c. 1834; d. Waverley, NSW, 30 Oct 1916). Teacher, songwriter and choir leader.

The son of a seaman, also Peter, and his wife Janet Dods, Peter McCormick became a joiner in Glasgow before emigrating to Sydney in 1855, where he worked his trade and engaged in musical and choral activities. Eight years later he became a teacher at St Mary's; he taught at two Woolloomooloo schools, 1867-85, then retired to concentrate on his musical and choral activities, though he taught 'scripture' in state schools. He married twice, but had no children.

McCormick's fame now rests on his writing in 1878 of 'Advance Australia Fair', but he was well known in the 1880-1910 period as the conductor of large children's choirs. He wanted to nurture patriotism among Australian children, while remaining a very keen member of Scottish societies. He was an elder at Palmer Street, Woolloomooloo and later at Waverley Presbyterian Church, and acted as Precentor to the General Assembly. He also bequeathed the royalties of his famous song to the Presbyterian Church. There is a memorial plaque in the Assembly Building, Sydney.

ADB 10; A Gilchrist (ed), Memoirs of Dr Archibald Gilchrist, ts 1940, ML, 20-23; The Scottish Australasian, 17 (May 1927), 511

MALCOLM D PRENTIS