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 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

.1) Black and white photograph of the torso of a man wearing a suit, leaning against ship's railing and holding streamers. The man is Frank Wright and the ship is 'Balranald'.
.2) Black and white photograph of two levels of the side of a ship with passengers standing at the railings. In the middle distance is a man leaning against the railing, holding streamers and in the foreground are the backs of a crowd of men. The man is Frank Wright and the ship is 'Balranald'.

Inscriptions & markings

.1) Printed on back - Post Card, Kodak
Handwritten in pencil on back - Frank Wright, Taken by Herald photographer when boat ("Balranald") was leaving Port Melbourne for London, Aug 5th 1933
Stamped on back - An indistinct "Copyright Herald ..." stamp