Historical information

William Wright was a gold miner and his wife's name was Sarah. They lived at Laura Villa, Smeaton. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank Wright their son was born and attended Smeaton State School and was a renown resident of Smeaton. 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 Australia.

Physical description

Three photos showing the same couple and cottage taken at the same time -
.1) Close up black and white photograph of a man wearing a dark suit and light hat and a woman in a dark skirt and cardigan standing beside a car in front of two weatherboard cottages. The man is William Wright and the woman is his wife Sarah.
.2) Black and white photograph of a man wearing a dark suit and light hat and a woman in a dark skirt and cardigan standing beside a car in front of two weatherboard cottages. The man is William Wright and the woman is his wife Sarah.
.3) Black and white photograph of a man wearing a dark suit and light hat and a woman in a dark skirt and cardigan standing on the front verandah of a weatherboard cottage. The man is William Wright and the woman is his wife Sarah.