Historical information

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. 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

Frank Wright in Columbo, Ceyon, 1933
1). Black and white photograph of a man dresses in a suit sitting on a rickshaw being pulled by a man dressed in shorts, short sleeved shirt and sandals. In the background is a two storied building with arched verandahs on both levels. The man is Frank Wright and the place is Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

2). Black and white photograph of a man dressed in a suit and carrying a light hat, standing beside two Sinhalese men, one of whom is sitting on the steps of a building whilst the other is looking down. Further along the steps a couple of other men are watching. The man is Frank Wright and the place is the 'native quarter', Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

3). Black and white photograph of a man dressed in a suit and carrying a light hat, standing in front of the white dome and spire of a Buddist temple. The man is Frank Wright and the place is Columbo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Inscriptions & markings

1). Written in pencil on back - Frank Wright in Rickshaw drawn by Dan Barry, Columbo, Ceylon, Sept 1933

2). Written in pencil on back - Frank Wright in native quarter, Columbo, Ceylon, Sept 1933

3). Written in pencil on back - Frank Wright at Buddist temple, Columbo. Ceylon, Sept 1933