Linger Carl
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15/03/1810 |
| Place of birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Date of arrival | 1849 |
| Principal occupation | Musician and composer.Composed the music for The Song of Australia. |
| Date of death | 16/02/1862 |
| Place of death | Adelaide |
Carl Ferdinand August Linger was born in Berlin on 15th March 1810. He was the son of an engraver. He studied music with renowned teachers and visited Milan and Venice to gain further knowledge of the Italian school of music.
He sailed to South Australia aboard the "Princess Louise" in 1849. He began as a farmer at Munno Para, but this venture was not successful, so he went to Adelaide where he tuned pianos and noted music score.
Linger conducted the first Philharmonic Orchestra in Adelaide and its first performance of Handel's "Messiah", in 1858.
In 1859 he won the prize for composing the music for the words of a poem "Song of Australia", given by the Committee of the Gawler Institute.The song was first sung on the 12th December 1859.
Linger died on 16th February 1862 in Adelaide. A large sandstone memorial was erected over his grave in the West Terrace Cemetery, in 1936. Each year on Australia Day, the "Song of Australia" is sung at a Memorial Service at his graveside.
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