The X Factor on Network Ten
Network Ten won the rights for The X Factor in Australia.
Auditions began in Perth in November 2004. They were also held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney.
The finalists will be selected for one of three categories: solo artists 16-24, solo artists 25 and over and groups.
Each category will be mentored by one of three individuals.
Viewers will be able to vote on each week on the live performances - and one act will be voted off the show each week until the winning act is chosen. The winner will be signed to record label BMG.
The X Factor will be broadcast from February 2005.
The X Factor team in Australia
The judges for the X Factor in Australia will be Elton John's former manager John Reid, singer Kate Ceberano and the Australian Idol judge Mark Holden.
The Bill actor Daniel McPherson will present the show.
Thousands attend auditions
More than 3,000 wannabees auditioned for Network Ten's The X Factor in Brisbane - about two-thirds of them were aged over 25.
Mother-of-two Nina Candy, 45, was one who were put through the two-stage audition process at the Brisbane auditions. Nina sang Patsy Cline's Crazy for the judges.
"You're never too old to sing and play and have fun in life. I think it's never too late to do this sort of thing," she said.
Groups auditioning including the Blenders from the Gold Coast, a chorus of 35 men aged between 16 and 80, and a quintet called Random. They met each other at the auditions.