2025 King’s Birthday Honours List: Baz Luhrmann, Bruce Rowland, Iyer Brothers & More

The full list of recipients for the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours have been revealed, with over a dozen music and industry figures being recognised.

A total of 830 recipients were named in Monday’s ceremony by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, with myriad names being made a Companion, Officer, or Member of the Order of Australia, with many others being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

In the top line, there were a large amount of recognisable names, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and veteran ABC broadcaster Phillip Adams. On the creative front, South African-born writer J. M. Coetzee made the list, as did filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and wife Catherine Martin.

While Luhrmann is himself a peripheral figure in the world of music (having made films such as Moulin Rouge! and Elvis, and even topped the UK charts and appeared in triple j’s Hottest 100 for his 1997 track Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)), such a descriptor is absent from his listing (though it does cite his contributions to “to cultural heritage, and to the development of artistic talent”).

When it comes to music specifically, a total of 14 names have been included in this year’s honours, including the likes of composer Bruce Rowland.

A multiple AFI Award winner, Rowland's most noted works include scoring films such as The Man From Snowy River and Phar Lap, alongside conducting the orchestra for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The list also includes Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer, who have spent more than 30 years performing as the Iyer Brothers. Performing the Carnatic style of South Indian classical music, the pair are renowned for their use of the saraswati veena instrument, and have received awards for their work in both Australia and the US.

Other individuals included in this year’s honours include John Middleton, Moira Hansen, and Joseph Cook, who are recognised for their work in community music. Guy Ghouse, Mark Ford, Joyce Skelton, and the late Douglas Saxon are also noted for their service to music education.

Additionally Kristen Williams is named for service to the arts through music, the late Peter Burgis is recognised for service to music through sound archiving, and Iain O’Connor is singled out for his service to music and foreign affairs.

The full list of recipients for the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours are available via the Governer-General’s website.