Unveiling of the Carleton Memorial at the Wallaroo Cemetery

Caroline Carleton and her husband Charles emigrated to South Australia in 1839, and 20 years later she penned the anthem Song of Australia in response to a competition organised by the Gawler Institute. Her words with music by Carl Linger won the competition.

The anthem was sung by several generations of South Australians including school children at assemblies and was favoured as Australia's national anthem. In 1977 Song of Australia lost at referendum to Advance Australia Fair, which was proclaimed Australia's national anthem in 1984. 

After her husband's death in 1861 Caroline Carleton taught for some years, but while visiting her daughter in Wallaroo she died and was buried in the local cemetery. In 1923 a red granite obelisk was erected at her grave by admirers. In 1959 the memorial was transferred to Centenary Square opposite the Post Office.

Carleton, Caroline, 1820-1874

Hughes, Lloyd Clarence Wallaroo, 1874-1974 Wallaroo: Pub. by the Corporation of the Town of Wallaroo, 1974

Wallace, Ronald A. V Our great patriotic song: the "Song of Australia": with information on Caroline J. Carleton (who wrote the words) and Carl August Ferdinand Linger (who composed the music) [Adelaide, S. Aust.]: Carl Linger Memorial Committee, [1999]

Song of Australia, Carleton: [newspaper cuttings relating to Mrs. C. Carleton, Carl Linger and "The Song of Australia", with several versions of the song]