This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. About A. B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson Andrew Barton Paterson was born at Narrambla Station in New South Wales, Australia, on 17th February 1864 and died 5th February 1941. His first seven years were spent on his father’s station, where like so many Australian children he enjoyed a bush boyhood. This property was at Obley in the Orange district of New South Wales. The family moved to the Yass district and lived near the main route from Sydney to Melbourne where he saw a great many bullock teams, drovers with herds of stock, gold escorts and Cob & Co coaches. His lifelong love of horses and horsemen was forged from the riders and their horses he saw at the picnic races and polo matches the family attended. These horses and riders where from the Murrumbidgee River and Snowy Mountain areas of New South Wales. Patterson lived most of his life in Sydney. He became a journalist, army officer, novelist, poet, solicitor and a war correspondent. He enjoyed many different sports such as tennis, rowing and, most of all, he delighted in his horsemanship. His first poem ‘El Mahdi to the Australian Troop’ was published in the Bulletin in 1885 under the pen name of “The Banjo”, which was the name of his favourite horse. In 1895 his first book was published and was sold out in the week of publication; he sold 7000 copies in a few months. This book was “The Man From Snowy River, and other Verses” and it contained such ballads as ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, ‘The Geebung Polo Club’, ‘The Man from Ironbark’, and ‘Saltbush Bill’. The tittle poem was first published in 1890. In 1895 Patterson visited his fiancé (at that time), Sarah Riley, who was staying with her friends the Macphersons at Dagworth Station in Queensland. Sarah’s old school friend Christina McPherson. Christina replayed to them an old Scottish tune called “The Craigielee March” that she had heard played by the Garrison Artillery band at the Warrnambool picnic races in Victoria, 1894. Patterson wrote words to fit the tune and it became the now famous ‘Waltzing Matilda’. He was commissioned by the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Age as they correspondent to report on the South African War. After being a roving reporter in China he went to England and spent time with Rudyard Kipling. In April 1903 Paterson married Alice Walker in Tenterfield, New South Wales, and they had two children, Grace and Hugh. At the outbreak of World War 1 Paterson sailed for England in the hope of covering the fighting in Flanders as a correspondent but finished up driving an ambulance for the Australian Voluntary Hospital, Wimereux, France. In 1915 as an honorary vet he made three voyages taking horse to Africa, China and Egypt. On 18th October 1915 he was commissioned in the 2nd Remount Unit in the Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to Captain serving in the Middle East. He was wounded in April 1916, when he re-joined his unit he was promoted to major and commanded the Australian Remount Squadron from October 1916 to his return to Australia in 1919. Once the War was over he resumed his work as a journalist until he retired in 1930 so that he could devote time to creative writing. He became a successful radio broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Commission using his travel experiences. He wrote the children’s book “The Animals Noah Forgot” in 1933 and then in 1934 “Happy Dispatches” in which he told of his meetings with people like Winston Churchill and Kipling. “The Shearer’s Colt was published in 1936 and in 1939 he wrote for the Sydney Morning Herald. After a short illness he passed away in Sydney on 5th February 1941. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. Three Elephant Power Author: A B Paterson Publisher: Angus & Robertson Date: 1917Label on spine cover with typed text RA 823.91 PAT Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute Fly paper has a stamp from Warrnambool Mechanics Institutewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, three elephant power, a b paterson

Donated by S Serpell of Serpell & Reid Families, SandringhamColoured Postcard of two horse drawn coaches. Three people on the coach in the foreground and one person on the rear coach. A person on the roadside. Trees either side of the road. Front: Phillip Island - Wool Team on road to Cowes. Back: Harbison's Wool & Dray.wool team, horse drawn wagons, horse drawn coaches, s serpell

Print mounted on board showing coach crossing Erskine RiverCoach & Team - Sam Clissold driver. Lorne Bridgebridge, coach, sam clissold, clissold, lorne bridge, horse driven, 1617, erskine, coach-driver

Horsedrawn team of two Clydesdale horses and workmen at Cumberland River 1921g.o.r. clydesdale horse team cumberland river 1921

The bullock team was part of a parade held on the main street of Halls Gap in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of Major Mitchell's visit to the area. There was also a plaque unveiled in commemoration of the Wildflower Show and its many volunteers.The photo shows a crowd watching a bullock team hauling a dray with five children sitting in it down a road. The bullock driver is walking alongside holding a long handled whip over his shoulder. A wagon pulled by draught horses can be seen behind the bullock dray. Buildings can be seen to the right rear of the photo and trees line the left side of the street.events, parades

Red cloth hard cover photo album with Art Nouveau design on cover and green paper pages, containing black and white photographs from the World War One era of soldiers abroad and family. Some formal studio photography. Subject matter includes: Middle East, France, Egypt, Horses, Zoo visit, well digging, horse in a hammock, hotels and souvenir cards, North Africa, camels, camps, tents, donkeys, ships, portraits, sports teams, Ypres in Belgium, Folkestone UK, Camp at Burrumbeet 1913 and another dated photograph reads 30th May 1916. Photographs are stuck down onto pages. Cover reads: SCRAP ALBUMwwi, world war one, soldiers, aif, anzac, portraits, photo albums, grand continental cairo, jb ballardie, william harrigan, ypres, cairo, 54th bn, t.s.s. borda, la rue au beurre, leas bandstand & parade folkestone

Soft covered booklet on physical training in the Army. Contains line drawings of various individual and team training exercises and lessonsWO Code No 9470physical training army

Soft covered booklet , includes line drawings of various individual and team drills on fitness trainingCode No 7117army physical training

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "On a right-angle turning of the Eltham Road is Wellers Pub, a Cobb & Co. coaching stop on the way to distant gold-fields and places north of the Yarra River. The Hotel dates from the 1870's. Daily distances for a bullock team was eight miles, horses could do double that distance. We turned into Cassells Road and on the corner of Ingrams Road we admired an elaborate Edwardian villa, 1900 style. The Aqueduct conveying Melbourne's water supply was a communication line and a technological advance in 1891. It has been enlarged and re-faced and no longer used here but piped underground. Proclaimed a linear park it has reverted to crown land, controlled by local Council. Maroondah Dam was constructed in. 1920 to replace the original weir and at that time: the Aqueduct - as established into the landscape - with bridges and tunnels and pine trees were used to stop rubbish polluting the water."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, ingrams road, research (vic.)

Top photo: The property 'Golden Glen', home of photographer, Albert Jones. At the right of the photo is an apple orchard over the other side of Watery Gully creek. The middle building in the photo is still standing, located on Wattle Glen - Kangaroo Ground Road between Pretty Hill Lane and Millers Road (Melway 271 A6) but on the opposite side of the road. Bottom photo: The Wattle Glen General Store in this photo was located at the same intersection as the present Wattle Glen General Store (cnr of Reynolds Road and Kangaroo Ground Road) but on the diagonally opposite corner. [Comment from Valda via Victorian Collections June 11, 2018] "The addition to the store on the left, and the building at the back, were not part of the store/post office owned by the Keenan's. They were added by Mr and Mrs Alan (Janet) Frencham's in the ?mid-1950s." See also EDHS_03112: See Ref: EDHS_03112 A WINDOW ON THE PAST by Roger Sanders, The Sun, Wednesday, Auguist 11, 1976, pp 38-39 A fascinating window has been opened on the early life of the Eltham district. It is a rare collection of 3,000 perfectly preserved glass plate photograph negatives. The collection is the work of the late Albert Jones, a Diamond Creek orchardist and amateur photographer. About 500 of the negatives have been printed and 100 are on display at Gallery 4, Eltham, as part of the Eltham Festival," which started on Friday. They capture in fine detail rural and village life around Eltham, Hurstbridge, Kangaroo Ground, Yarra Glen and Diamond Valley from 1900 to 1930. While the natural beauty of the district was painted in this period by Arthur Streeton (later Sir Arthur), Tom Roberts and Charles Conder, among others, photography was relatively new. Yet Albert Jones used the new medium to compile a weighty album of pioneers at work, at home, at sport and on holidays. He was at the first Yarra Glen race meeting, early Diamond Valley football matches and photographed soldiers from the district leaving for war. He photographed early gold mines, men with horses laying the Diamond Creek-Hurstbridge rail track and the arrival of the first steam train at Hurstbridge. He took his cameras on holiday around Victoria and the collection includes scenes from St. Kilda and Portsea and many country towns. The Jones collection of negatives was found by Mr A. J. "Ned" Spark, of Balwyn, under a house he bought from Mr Jones' widow. The plates almost went to the tip with a pile of rubbish before Mr Spark realised their potential value. Mr Spark, who is retired, will continue the identification and recording of the photographs when he returns from holidays. The exhibition of the Jones' photographs is open each afternoon until August 21 at Gallery 4, 1016 Main Rd., Eltham. Photographs included in article: • The priceless collection of glass plate negatives were found under this house in Eltham [actually Wattle Glen], home of Albert Jones and his wife. • A quiet country pub - Panton Hills Hotel. • Teams of draught horses were used in the building of the Diamond Creek-Hursbridge railway in 1910. • Chinaman Jimmy using a gold cradle in Wattle Glen Gully. • The photographer and orchardist Albert Jones. His work is on show as part of the Eltham Festival • St Kilda Pier – several of the houses are still standing, but the waterfront has changed dramatically since this was taken before 1920. • A picnic was a dressy affair at the start of the century – the women in this family group are decked in lace and pearls.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Safety 5035albert jones, golden glen, shops, wattle glen

A harness distributes pressure over a large area of the horse. The breeching harness can be used for a single horse, a pair, or in a larger team but only for the pair closest to the vehicle as only they have control of the vehicle.Used by residents in the Kiewa Valley prior to motorised vehicles.Goes around the horse's haunches ie. back end of the horse. Allows the horse to slow a vehicle or hold it back when going down the hill. Connects to the shafts. Leather with steel buckles and rivets and chains.horse equipment, breeching harness

A harness distributes pressure over a large area of the horse. The breeching harness can be used for a single horse, a pair or in a larger team but only for the pair closest to the vehicle as only they have control of the vehicle.Used by residents in the Kiewa Valley prior to motorised vehicles.The harness has a round bit of leather that sits on top of the hind quarters and it connects to or is part of the breeching harness. Also connects to the crupper (the strap that hooks under the tail). Leather with steel buckles and chainbreeching straps, breeching harness, horse equipment

Lloyd Lindsay Competition In 1873 Colonel Loyd Lindsay introduced a prize for mounted riflemen. The initial experimental competition was a great success and it was for many years a feature of the various shooting programs. The conditions in 1873 required that sections of four mounted men were to ride about three quarters of a mile, taking two flights of hurdles in the course, and were, while dismounted and their horses either linked or held by alternate files, each to fire five shots at 200 yards standing, and the same number at 400 yards in any position. There was a time limit of twelve minutes, and the rifle, of any Government pattern, had to be carried on the back or slung to the saddle. 13TH GIPPSLAND LIGHT HORSE HANDSOME TROPHIES ON VIEW Thery are on view in the window of Mr. A. W. Bennett, Jeweller, some handsome trophies which were pre sented to the 13th (Gippsland) Light Horse, and which are worthy of the admiration they have elicited. A handsome pair of solid silver candal abra, presented to the officers mess of the Regiment by Mrs. Norman Mc Lean in memory of her husband, the late Lieut. Norman McLean, who for many years was a member of the re giment, are a fine piece of workman ship and valued at £200. The silver cup donated by the same lady for competition amongst the Regimental troops, is also very handsome. The late* Hon. .William - Pearson, M.L.C., who was Honorary Colonel of the 13th (Gippsland) Light Horse Re giment, presented a handsome silver cup. for competition amongst the' troops of the 'regiment, Iand teams will compete 'for it annually at the camp of continuous training. The ar ray of trophies is a most interesting one. Gippsland Times 19 Jan 1925 HUTTON SHIELD Stratford Troop Beaten After winning the Hutton Shield for four years in succession, the Stratford Troop of the 13th. (Gipps land) Light Horse was defeated in this year's competition last week, Scottsdale Troop (Tasmania) beating Stratford by 17 points. Gippsland Times 22 May 1933 Black & white photo of 17 silver Light Horse trophies on a British flag draped display stand. Trophies include: Lloyd Lindsay Competition for best section & lance and sword events, Foster Cup for best troop in Australia, Machine Gun Troop, Pearson Cup, Digger Trophy for best Regiment in Australia, McClean Cup and donated candelabra, Hutton Shield for best Light Horse Troop in Australia, Brigade Cup for sports in annual camp.Sydney Whillams. Sketch on back identifying objectslight horse, trophies, photo

In 1858 a tramway was constructed to move goods between Warrnambool township and jetty on Lady Bay which was over a mile away The terminus was established on the southern side of Merri Street. and the track went around the edge of Lake Pertobe reserve. Large stores were also built near where the present railway station is situated to hold produce and carriages. These documents relate to the contract to perform the horse work for the tramway for a period of one year. The horse work involved the transporting of goods by horse drawn tram trucks, all repairs to the tracks , shunting and delivery duties. The tramway operated from 7 am to 6 pm six days a week and a team of six horses was required to perform the work.The tramway was an important part of Warrnambool's infrastructure and history and the documents also include names of local people.001261.1 Pale blue lined paper with red lined outline.Hand written in black pen with names and some other words underlined in red. Two signatures on bottom right with red seal beside each. Witness signature below on left hand side. Of the four pages of the document , only the first page is used. 001261.2 Cream paper lined in blue with heavy black ink writing. A red seal attached beside the tenderer's mark and name. on right side of page. Witness's signature at bottom centre of page.001261.1 James Roberts hay and corn dealer ,Fairy Street Warrnambool, Martin Callaghanfarmer and contractor Raglan Parade Warrnambool. Daniel Gallagher, contractor of Warrnambool. September 1881. 001261.1 Daniel Gallagher .James Roberts Martin Callaghan September 12, 1881.warrnambool, warrnambool history, daniel gallagher, james roberts

A team of eleven horse (probably twelve) harnessed together bogged down in mud. Unknown location and date.This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, other areas, horses, mud, stuck, bogged

The Potosi was built in Scotland in 1873 by John Elder and Co.It was a cargo/passenger iron screw steamer and sailed from 1880-1887 under the Orient Line Australia service. Samuel James Lynn was born in 1865 in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Sam left his home in Coleraine in 1883 at the age of 17. (More information in O.D.H.S. newsletter No. 91 September, 2012 by Margaret Hollands) Samuel Lynn was a well-known Orbost pioneer. Ho owned much property throughout the district , bred Clydesdale horses and fattened about 600 cattle. He was in great demand as a judge of both cattle and horses at agricultural shows in Victoria and interstate. He was a shire councillor for 30 years and president several times. He took a great interest in the sporting clubs of the town and played cricket until late in life. He was goal umpire for the local football team for many years, judged for the Orbost Racing Club and was the first president of the Orbost Bowls Club. He was also a member of the first municipal band. A paper passenger's contract ticket for Samuel Lynn on the Steam Ship Potosi from Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool, United Kingdom to Melbourne, Australia. It is white with black print and hand-written details.front - signed "Samuel Lynn"lynn-samuel potosi-steamship

Black and white photograph of wood church mounted on wheels being pulled by a team of draught horses. Two small 8.5 x 6 photographs that appear to be original from which larger photograph has been taken are inserted in the sleeve.Typed below photograph, "Moving Presbyterian Church 1915. It seemed to be a favourite pastime in Ringwood to shift churches as the town centre changed".

The Shrine of Remembrance was created to meet the needs of a grieving community after the extensive loss of lives in the First World War (1914 –18). sixteen dark Buchan marble Ionic columns. In the early 1900s black marble was being mined in the Bruthen district. Some was used for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Australia House in London. 900 tonnes were shipped to London to be included in the construction of Australia House. Marble quarrying has been a significant part of the history of Buchan in East Gippsland. Its inclusion in the Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial is noteworthy.A black / white photograph of a team of eight horses hitched to an open top cart. The cart is loaded with lrge slabs of marble. The driver is on top of the load. It is on a gravel road in a forest. The photograph has a grey frame background.om front - "HAULING BUCHAN MARBLE FOR SHRINE OF REM'ANCE"marble-buchan quarry-marble-south-buchan shrine-of-remembrance

Black and white photograph of braced wooden building with team of draught horses in front.Written on backing sheet, "Ringwood Methodist Church being moved from Whitehorse Rd. position near lake to position opposite station". A small photograph inserted in sleeve also reads, "Moving Presby. Ch. 1928 (from Whitehorse. Rd. to Adelaide St.)"

Catalogue card reads, "The Mountain District Horse and Pony Club's winning team with the shield presented by the A.N.Z. Bank. From left: Judith Byrne, Helen Harvie, Marian Farmer, Campbell Sullivan". Note on back of photograph reads, "Annual two day competition of the Pony Clubs' Association of Victoria held at Frankston 21st and 22nd May. [no year stated].

A black and white photograph of bullock teams at the Log Dump at on the Wood's Point Road.A black and white photograph of bullock teams at the Dump at on the Wood's Point Road. The Marysville-Woods Point Road was originally part of the Yarra Track, constructed in the early 1860s to provide access between Healesville and the Woods Point Goldfields. Despite the steep terrain and engineering difficulties, the Yarra Track soon became a busy route used by pack horses, horse-drawn drays, and wagons. Today this sealed mountain road is a popular scenic drive between Marysville and Warburton. This postcard was produced by the Marysville Historical Society as a souvenir of Marysville.YESTERYEAR POSTCARDS AFFIX/ STAMP/ HERE BULLOCK TEAMS AT THE DUMP,/ WOODS POINT ROAD. C Marysville Historical Society, 1993marysville, bullock teams, woods point road, victoria, marysville historical society, postcard, souvenir, yesteryear postcards, marysville-wood's point road, yarra track, healesville, mining, timber mills, warburton

This photo was in the collection of Frank Wright. Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in AustraliaBlack and white photograph of a man ploughing a field with a team of three horses. In the background is a large cypress and a house can be seen behind a hedge and fence.frank wright, ballarat, cornet, conductor, smeaton, plough, team of horses