Historical information

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 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 Australia.

Physical description

.1) black and white photograph of a woman dressed in a dark ankle length dress with a scalloped overskirt, wearing beads around her neck. She is standing on the steps of a cottage "Laura Villa" with a shrub to the left of her. The woman is Laura Wright.
.2) black and white photograph of a woman wearing a long dark dress and a white cravat with a brooch, standing of the steps of a cottage. The woman is Sarah Wright and the cottage is "Laura Villa".
.3) black and white photograph of a woman wearing a long dark dress and a white cravat with a brooch, standing of the steps of a cottage. The woman is Sarah Wright and the cottage is "Laura Villa".

Inscriptions & markings

.1) Handwritten on back - Laura Wright, aged 25 years. Taken at Smeaton, January 28th 1922, by Frank Wright
.2) Handwritten on back Mrs W. Wright, "Laura Villa" Smeaton. Taken by her son, Frank Wright on January 28th, 1922