[1] Williamson was commissioned to write his Seventh Symphony by Dr Alexandra E. Cameron in 1984 on behalf of the Chamber Youth Strings of Melbourne.
The piece originally had a dual purpose: to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the State of Victoria, and to give the youth orchestra a showpiece to take on a European tour in 1985.
[2] The first performance of the symphony was planned for 10 January 1985 at Australia House in London, but in the event only three of the four movements were played (the scherzo was omitted).
[4] Although each movement has a separate impetus behind it, the whole work is unified by the idea of (in the composer's words) "the unforeseen cross-pollination of ethnic groups that has enriched Australian life".
A celebration of the vivid landscape of Victoria is most overt in the introverted third movement, an eight-minute lament of great poise capturing the majesty of the Dandenongs and Wilsons Promontory.