City of Melbourne Libraries
Photograph, Bull, Hugh Jones, 1897-1993, Footscray State School Boys Band
... In the background is a school shelter shed, a railway line, houses and a netball ring on a wooden stand.
The Hyde Street State School Band was formed in 1928 as the school band for Hyde Street State School No. 1912 at 10 Hyde Street Footscray (now Footscray City Primary School). ...In the background is a school shelter shed, a railway line, houses and a netball ring on a wooden stand.
The Hyde Street State School Band was formed in 1928 as the school band for Hyde Street State School No. 1912 at 10 Hyde Street Footscray (now Footscray City Primary School). ...
Photographer notations on slide: Footscray State School Boys Band 1933 B5
Published: JUNIOR BAND CHAMPIONS--BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS--BELGIAN CARNIVAL--A ROYAL YACHTSMAN. (1933, September 1). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 3.
Published caption: “Proud Champions.- The drum-major of the band of the Hyde-street State School, Footscray, leads his players in a march past for visitors during Music Week. Under Mr. Frank Johnston’s conductorship this band has held the championship for two years.”
Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205116143
Scope and Content:
Footscray’s Hyde Street State School Band, led by their drum major, prepare to march past a group of mothers while playing their instruments. The band held the record for winning the most Victorian State Schools Association Championships between 1931 and 1966.
Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer:
Description:
A large group of boys, most of whom are dressed in long trousers and peaked band hats, led by their drum major, prepare to march past a group of women dressed in overcoats and hats and an infant in a pram. In the background is a school shelter shed, a railway line, houses and a netball ring on a wooden stand.
The Hyde Street State School Band was formed in 1928 as the school band for Hyde Street State School No. 1912 at 10 Hyde Street Footscray (now Footscray City Primary School). Their bandmaster, Francis Charles Johnston,(1880-1953) nicknamed “Massa” as a boy for his love and admiration of southern American jazz music, also conducted the Victorian Police Band, Collingwood Citizens Band, and the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band, amongst others, leading to scores of wins in brass band competitions.
Even into his sixties, “Massa” ran three laps around the South Melbourne Oval every morning in order to maintain fitness for his busy conducting schedule. He was a cornetist and horn player, and performed in and lead brass bands for more than fifty years including bands that farewelled Australian troops from the Boer War to the Second World War.
The Argus 13 December 1947, described “Massa” - “Bandsmen say he is a genius in brass band music, and the best conductor in the Southern Hemisphere. He still retains the romance and Bohemianism of the old German bandsmen he played with in the streets of Melbourne 50 years ago.”
In 1925, a bequest of £10,000 from the estate of the late writer, William Gillies was made to the Education Department of Victoria. It was devoted to three purposes -
“1) The encouragement of instrumental music (school bands or orchestras) in the State schools of Victoria, leading, it is hoped, to an increase in the number of village bands and orchestras, and, most important of all, family orchestras;
(2) The encouragement of the art of reading aloud, leading, it is hoped, to an increase of the admirable pastime of reading aloud in the family circle; and
(3) The encouragement of any branch of nature study, the aim of all three being to make home life, especially in the country, more attractive.”
The Director of Education, Mr. M.P. Hansen wrote in his book “Thoughts That Breathe” published in 1932, that, as a result of the Gillies Bequest-
“£3,030 has already been made available for the purchase of band instruments, and thanks largely to the encouragement given by this fine bequest, there are now in State schools in Victoria, each under expert tuition, 31 brass bands, 9 orchestras, 13 fife bands and 23 violin classes. That the effect of such work has a significant bearing on the right use of leisure, is undeniable.”
By 1937, at least 50 State school bands had been set up in Victoria and the Victorian State Schools Association Championships were hotly contested.
Frank quickly and skilfully brought the inexperienced boys of the Hyde Street Brass Band to A grade level, winning their first Victorian State Schools Association Championships in 1931. The band went on to win multiple times, holding the record for winning the most Victorian State Schools Association Championships between 1931 and 1966.
The band soon became an integral part of community events. Whenever the Footscray Football Team played a home game at the perpetually blustery Western Oval, (Whitten Oval since 1995) the band performed at half time, marching around the boundary line, belting out the Footscray Football Team theme song- “Sons of the ’Scray” played to the tune of “Sons of the Sea” by British music hall songwriter Felix McGlennon.
Volunteers walked behind the band carrying a large tarpaulin to catch the shower of coins thrown by fans from both teams, which helped pay for new instruments, repairs and uniforms.
The old footy joke goes-
Q. Who played on the wing at the Western Oval for 20 years, but never kicked a goal?
A. The Hyde Street Band.
Now called the Hyde Street Youth Band Inc, it is a not-for-profit organisation, supported by the City of Maribyrnong. Their aim is to make brass music accessible to young people aged from 5-25 years, by supplying the instruments and lessons for a modest annual membership fee. The traditional British brass band comprises of three musical ensembles according to ability. The Hyde Street Youth Band Inc. play at community events including the AFL Grand Final Parade, ANZAC Day March at the Shrine of Remembrance, Moomba Parade and Yarraville Carols by Candlelight. Their repertoire includes classical, marches, hymns, contemporary music and movie themes.
https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/2018/04/08/victorian-state-school-brass-bands-their-legacy-lives-on/
Massa" and His Musical Firemen (1947, December 13). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 2 (The Argus Week-end Magazine). Retrieved May 5, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22532344
http://www.hydestreethistory.8m.net/photo2.html
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS (1932, March 9). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved May 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29946674
https://hsyb.org.au/about/history-2/
https://hsyb.org.au/about/
MUSIC AND READING ALOUD. (1925, June 1). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2122525
Shake! Narrow Escape From Shark The Birdcage Walk Champion Schoolboy's Band (1931, December 24). The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956), p. 14-15. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article276259073
AROUND THE SCHOOLS: THE ARGUS JUNIOR (1947, September 23). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6 (The Argus Super Comic). Retrieved April 20, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22509356
https://bandblastsfromthepast.blog/tag/hyde-street-youth-band/
THE GILLIES BEQUEST (1933, September 2). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 22. Retrieved May 5, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11688410
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/johnston-francis-charles-massa-13009
Hyde Street, Footscray, State School Children (1930, March 8). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 40. Retrieved May 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223899955Photographer notations on slide: Footscray State School Boys Band 1933 B5bands, 1930-1939, musical instruments, schools, state schools, uniforms, footscray
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