The Slim Dusty 100 -- Celebrating A Legend

Universal Music Australia

Key Facts:

On 13 June 2027, Slim Dusty would have turned 100, and EMI/Universal Music Australia and the Slim Dusty Estate are marking the milestone with a fan-led celebration called Slim Dusty 100.
Fans across Australia and beyond are invited to vote for their 10 favourite Slim Dusty songs from a catalogue of over 1,000 recordings, with voting open from 14 October to 15 November 2026.
The 100 most-voted songs will be compiled into a collection released on multi-vinyl, CD and digital formats, with the final countdown revealed on Slim's 100th birthday, 13 June 2027.
Born in Kempsey, NSW in 1927, Slim Dusty recorded more than 100 albums over a 57-year career, earning 38 Golden Guitars, two ARIA Awards, an MBE, and an AO, before his passing in 2003.
Fans can cast their votes at https://slimdusty.lnk.to/100PR , choosing from beloved classics such as A Pub With No Beer and Lights On The Hill as well as deeper cuts from his extraordinary catalogue.

The Slim Dusty 100 — Celebrating A Legend

On 13 June 2027, Slim Dusty would have celebrated his 100th birthday—a remarkable milestone and an opportunity to celebrate the enduring legacy of one of Australia’s most iconic artists.

Slim’s contribution to Australian music and culture is immeasurable. Through his songs and storytelling, he captured the spirit of Australia—its people, places, humour, hardships and way of life. In doing so, he helped tell our story and shape our sense of who we are.

A century after his birth, those stories continue to resonate, connecting generations of Australians and ensuring Slim’s music remains as meaningful today as ever.

And who better to help celebrate that legacy than the people who have kept his music alive for generations—his fans.

Ahead of Slim’s 100th birthday, EMI / Universal Music Australia and the Slim Dusty Estate are inviting fans across Australia and beyond to have their say.

Introducing the Slim Dusty 100 — A Fan-Led Celebration of Slim Dusty’s Legacy.

At the heart of Slim Dusty 100 will be a nationwide fan vote inviting people to choose their 10 favourite Slim Dusty songs. With over 1000 songs recorded, fans have the opportunity to have their say on the songs that have resonated the most. From the much-loved classics to hidden gems and personal favourites, every vote will help tell the story of the songs that have meant the most to Slim’s audience.

The 100 most-voted songs will ultimately become Slim Dusty 100 - a collection released across multi-vinyl, CD and digital offerings. The final countdown will be revealed on 13 June 2027, marking Slim’s 100th birthday and providing a fitting centrepiece to the centenary celebrations. Will 'A Pub With No Beer' be #1 or will the song his wife Joy McKean penned (and awarded the first ever Golden Guitar) 'Lights On The Hill' take the top spot?

But Slim Dusty 100 is about more than determining Australia’s favourite Slim Dusty songs. The voting period itself presents an opportunity for fans to celebrate and rediscover Slim’s extraordinary catalogue and for a new generation of listeners, it's an invitation to discover Slim, his stories and his Australia for the first time.

To vote in the Slim Dusty 100, fans can head to https://slimdusty.lnk.to/100PR explore Slim’s extraordinary catalogue and vote for their Top 10 favourite songs. Voting opens Wednesday 14 October and closes Monday 16 November 2026.

So, fans are encouraged to dig deep, rediscover old favourites and get voting. From much-loved classics like 'Duncan', 'G’Day, G’Day' and 'The Biggest Disappointment', to deeper cuts such as Slim’s own 'Gumtrees by the Roadway' and the song that started it all for Bill Chambers 'Things Are Not the Same on the Land', the breadth of Slim’s catalogue is extraordinary—a treasure trove of songs, stories and hidden gems waiting to be discovered by old fans and new.

With more than five decades of recordings to explore, the question is simple: what will make your Top 10?

ABOUT SLIM DUSTY

Born David Gordon Kirkpatrick in Kempsey, NSW, in 1927, Slim Dusty became one of Australia’s most enduring and influential artists. Across more than five decades, his songs gave voice to everyday Australians and the people, places and stories that helped define the country.

Slim’s recording career began in 1946 when he signed to Columbia Graphophone’s Regal Zonophone label, later part of EMI Records Australia. It marked the beginning of an extraordinary 57-year relationship. Slim made all his recordings with EMI, releasing more than 100 albums and recording over 1,000 songs before his passing in 2003.

His achievements were equally remarkable: 38 Golden Guitars, two ARIA Awards, induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1988 and an ARIA Special Achievement Award in 1996. He was appointed an MBE in 1970 and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1998.

A Pub With No Beer reached Gold Record status in Australia, making Slim the first ever Australian artist to achieve the feat. The song went on to become an international hit, reaching #3 in the UK and #1 in Ireland.

In 1997, Slim was voted one of Australia’s inaugural 100 National Living Treasures, followed by being named the inaugural Senior Australian of the Year in 1999. In 2000, his performance of Waltzing Matilda at the Sydney Olympic Games Closing Ceremony became another defining moment in Australian cultural history.

Slim passed away on 19 September 2003, aged 76, leaving behind an extraordinary musical legacy that continues to resonate with generations of Australians.

The Slim Dusty 100 -- Celebrating A Legend

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