Historical information

In 2024, while doing some renovations at the Orbost Customer Service Centre / Library, Council staff have found some boxes of old Orbost Municipal Band uniforms and flags which date back to the late 1970s (when it’s understood the band wound up).
These items were offered to the O D Historical Society for its collection. A selection was made (3364).
The first Orbost Brass Band was formed in 1889. Around 1908 the town band split and the Orbost Workers' Band was formed. Eventually the two bands merged in 1913 to reform as the Orbost Municipal Band under conductorship of Charles Spink. The band continued for many years but was later disbanded and again reformed. This was to happen a number of times, the last time being in 1961 and continuing through to the late 1970's.
Also refer to items in the O D H S collection.
Further info and Ref: In Times Gone By - Deborah Hall

Significance

The items are significant because they are authentic parts of the Orbost Municipal Band.

Physical description

A number of items of clothing (cap, coat, gloves, jacket, badges, trousers), banner, insignias, whistle. These are all items associated with the Orbost Municipal Band. The costume items are all dark blue/black with gold and red trims. Gloves are white/cream gauntlet style. Whistle is silver. The banner is red background with gold trims and O M B appliqued.
3364.1 cap, dark blue with front visor, red ribbon decoration, 2 gold buttons on sides; large gold metal decoration of a lyre with crown on top a the front.
3364.2 pair of gloves, gauntlet style, white/cream leather, silver studs
3364.6 large jacket, dark blue/black, woollen, red epaulets on shoulders with gold buttons, 4 gold buttons on front, 6 on sleeves, gold braiding; drum badge on sleeves, 2 lyre badges; gold lanyard on right sleeve. Gold on black cloth badge on shoulders. A whistle is also with this jacket.
3364.4 small jacket, dark blue/black, woollen, red epaulets, gold studs, 2 lyre studs on lapels
3364.5 small trousers. dark blue/black, woollen. Red stripe down outside of both legs.
3364.3 a 41 cm square square red cloth banner, with gold fringe on the bottom, gold tassle on top with gold cord. Has O M B in large lettering appliqued to the banner.

Inscriptions & markings

labels on clothing:
F. Maxey & Son P/L - on cap
Simpson's Gloves P/L Vic. - gloves
Hersh's - on badges, also trousers, and jacket
OMB - Orbost Municipal Band - on banner
ORBOST - on cloth badges