Figure 1.--This is an Australian school band in 1932. This is the e Ashby School, Geelong. It looks to be a marching band, but the boys wear their school uniform, not a special band uniform. Note the school caps.

Australian schools were stongly influenced by the British educational system, of course because Australia was a British colony. We note what looks to be a marching band at an Austrlian school in 1932. They did not have fancy military uniforms like am American matching band. Instead they wore the standard school uniform. We know little about how common this was or how the band was used. We do not know, for example, if they were used for inter-scholastic sports events as pep bands or in half-time celebrations. Perhaps they were more like a municipal band. We note images from different schools, but know little about them at this time. We are not even sure if they were private or state schools. Hopefully our Australian readers will provide some information here.

British Influence

Australian schools were stongly influenced by the British educational system, of course because Australia was a British colony. Many of the same sports and traditions were adopted in Australia. The more relaxed class structure in Australia, however gradually affected the educational system. To what extent this affected the development of marching band, we are not quite sure.

Chronology

We note Australian school bands in the1930s. We do not yet know when they first appeared or how common they are in Australia today.

School Bands

We know little about how common school marching bands were in Australia or how the band was used. We do not know, for example, if they were used for inter-scholastic sports events as pep bands or in half-time celebrations. Perhaps they were more like a municipal band.

Uniform

We note what looks to be a marching band at an Austrlian school in 1932. They did not have fancy military uniforms like am American matching band. Instead they wore the standard school uniform.

Individual Schools

We note images from different schools, but know little about them at this time. We are not even sure if they were private or state schools.

Ashby School

All we know about the Ashby School is that it was located in Geelong. They had a traditional British school uniform. Available portraits show the band in the 1930s with large drums and brass instruments which seem to suggest that they were a marching band or at least a sports pep band. The Ashby Shool had quite a large school band.

Beechworth School

We also note that the Beechworth School had a boys band. It was a rather small band, perhaps the school was very small. Again we know nothing about the school, but the band looks to be a marching band. The portrait was taken about 1930.

Pleasant Street School

The Pleasant Street School, in Geelong had a boys band. It was a relatively small band. We know little about the school, but it looks to be a state chool. Again the band looks to be a marching band. The portrait is undated, but looks to have been taken in the 1930s.

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Created: November 30, 1998
Last updated: December 1, 2002