Australia’s National Songbook has named its first 10 inductees, with the inaugural selection spanning more than a century of Australian songwriting and composition. The annual initiative was announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) in Canberra.

The project, created by APRA AMCOS and the NFSA, aims to preserve songs that have helped shape the country’s cultural identity. Its first selection includes Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning,” the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind,” Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman,” The Presets’ “My People,” Yothu Yindi’s “Treaty” and “Waltzing Matilda.”

The remaining inductees are Ruby Hunter’s “Down City Streets,” Peter Sculthorpe’s “Earth Cry,” Neil Murray’s “My Island Home” and The Necks’ soundtrack to The Boys. The works were chosen by an expert panel and reflect themes including protest, belonging and identity.

APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston said the songs offer a way to consider Australia’s history, identity and values, while acknowledging that no 10 works can tell the country’s entire story. NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said the archive will preserve the songs and their stories as part of the national collection of works with cultural significance.

The National Songbook is launching alongside APRA’s 100th anniversary. As it grows, it is intended to become a permanent digital archive, with playlists available on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music.

The first inductees are: “Beds Are Burning” (1987), written by Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst and Jim Moginie; “Down City Streets” (1990), written by Ruby Hunter; “Earth Cry” (1990), composed by Peter Sculthorpe; “Friday on My Mind” (1966), written by Harry Vanda and George Young; “I Am Woman” (1971), written by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton; “My Island Home” (first released by the Warumpi Band in 1987 and by Christine Anu in 1995), written by Neil Murray; “My People” (2007), written by Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes; The Boys soundtrack (1998), written by Chris Abrahams, Tony Buck and Lloyd Swanton; “Treaty” (1991), written by Dr M. Yunupingu, Stuart Kellaway, Witiyana Marika, M. Mununggurr, Cal Williams, G. Yunupingu, Peter Garrett and Paul Kelly; and “Waltzing Matilda” (1927), with lyrics by Andrew “Banjo” Paterson and a melody by Christina Macpherson.

Sources: Billboard.