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Arcadia Brass Band - A short history
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DetailsWhen the North Colah (Galston and Arcadia) Progress Association was formed in 1917 the residents worked together in many ways to improve facilities n the district and also to see progress for their actions.
One very successful achievement was the Arcadia Musical Society Brass Band section which was an outstanding success of how widely separated people could come together with their individual talents to inaugurate such a society.
The band was formed on 24th May 1917. A fortnight later the original account books tell us that name of the band on the drum cost six shillings and several other necessary instruments were purchased. Suitable music also had o be purchased and two original pieces were the March Music for The Bell Brandon and Heroes Return.
There were 24 members of the original band and the conductor was George Mansfield. On special occasions a qualified guest conductor A. Chesterman stood in for the conductor at a fee of two pounds.
The bandsmen, with the co-operation of Arcadia Public School master J. R. Calov built an elevated platform at the rear of the school house to allow the group to perform their regular weekly practices sessions in the evening. These sessions were lit by kerosene lamps.
The band as formed during the period of the First World War and local men who enlisted were given send-off functions to music played by the band.
Likewise returning servicemen were welcomed home with social occasions. The brass band‘s musical entertainment was in constant demand in Arcadia, Galston, Glenorie and Dural.
Peace celebrations were marked in the district with the presence of the Arcadia Brass Band.
From 1918 onwards Ern Black’s coach provided transport at a cost of a pound per engagement.
Communication between band members would have been much easier when the district telephone exchange which served the Galston, Arcadia and Berrilee areas was established at Arcadia Post Office in 1919. It did not take long for telephones to become popular in the rural district of our Shire.
The band performed well into the 1920s when, for a variety of reasons, this most dedicated entertainment amateur group closed down.
CreatorPatricia DeweyKeywordsArcadia
One very successful achievement was the Arcadia Musical Society Brass Band section which was an outstanding success of how widely separated people could come together with their individual talents to inaugurate such a society.
The band was formed on 24th May 1917. A fortnight later the original account books tell us that name of the band on the drum cost six shillings and several other necessary instruments were purchased. Suitable music also had o be purchased and two original pieces were the March Music for The Bell Brandon and Heroes Return.
There were 24 members of the original band and the conductor was George Mansfield. On special occasions a qualified guest conductor A. Chesterman stood in for the conductor at a fee of two pounds.
The bandsmen, with the co-operation of Arcadia Public School master J. R. Calov built an elevated platform at the rear of the school house to allow the group to perform their regular weekly practices sessions in the evening. These sessions were lit by kerosene lamps.
The band as formed during the period of the First World War and local men who enlisted were given send-off functions to music played by the band.
Likewise returning servicemen were welcomed home with social occasions. The brass band‘s musical entertainment was in constant demand in Arcadia, Galston, Glenorie and Dural.
Peace celebrations were marked in the district with the presence of the Arcadia Brass Band.
From 1918 onwards Ern Black’s coach provided transport at a cost of a pound per engagement.
Communication between band members would have been much easier when the district telephone exchange which served the Galston, Arcadia and Berrilee areas was established at Arcadia Post Office in 1919. It did not take long for telephones to become popular in the rural district of our Shire.
The band performed well into the 1920s when, for a variety of reasons, this most dedicated entertainment amateur group closed down.
CreatorPatricia DeweyKeywordsArcadiaRelated
CollectionPatricia Dewey
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Patricia Dewey, Arcadia Brass Band - A short history. Hornsby Shire, accessed 02/06/2026, https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/5384