The original Austral Band was formed by Mr T K H Mayne in the mid 1800s.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The brick band hall in Campbell Street, originally built in 1876 to replace the state school in Rivers Street, became the practice venue for the band.
The building ceased being a school in 1887 and was hired, free of charge, from the Education Department.
The conductor of the Austral Band at the time was Mr Oriell. Then Quarter-Master Sergeant Draper was given control of the conductorship, followed by Charles Bofinger, until May 1895 when a young 19-year-old band member Matthew Henry Girle took charge of the baton. Members at the time were William, Matt and Tom Girle, R Warbrooke, J Cheadle, W Turner, George, W Sharpe, W Bolton, M Blair, P Ryan, P Layton, P McRae, A Sharpe and A Morton.
Matt Girle, who conducted the Austral band for 44 years, developed his love for music when he was a member of the Royal Lodge of Oddfellows in Armidale. They had their own brass band.
The Inverell Austral Band was entirely self supporting and the conductorship was honorary. At the time they were one of the best marching bands in the state.
In 1905 the 32-man band, dressed in their scarlet coats and dragoon flares and with highly polished instruments, won the Austral Band Competition at the Toowoomba Carnival.
Over the years they won many prizes at Maitland, Ballarat and Armidale.
Well known for their quick step marches, the band played the Sousa and many British marching tunes including the Gladiator. They also played pieces by Verdi and Rossini.
Expenses for trips to competitions, accommodation, instruments, and music were costly. To fund the band the generous public of Inverell conducted socials, concerts and open-air performances.
Locally the Austral Band also participated in many street parades. One of the band’s proudest moments was during World War 1 when, with the Model and Salvation Army Bands, they marched to the Inverell Railway station with the Kurrajong recruits.
One of the band’s proudest moments was when they marched to the Inverell Railway station with the Kurrajong recruits.
In 1939 council became trustees for the Austral Band. The following year the band handed over their assets to the council and later a municipal band was formed.