Reporter ELIZABETH KOVACS traces the Canberra City Band’s century of musical contribution to the city that started with a small brass band of construction workers in 1925. 

During the early days of constructing Canberra, a small brass band was formed by the workers in 1925.

With the inclusion of woodwind instruments in 1949, it is believed to be Australia’s oldest community concert band in Australia.

Canberra City Band (CCB), also known as “Canberra’s Official Band” from 1949 onwards, celebrates its centenary this year. 

Battling the Great Depression, two temporary pauses in rehearsals (from rebellion to pandemics) and five separate rehearsal locations, CCB has performed at some of Canberra’s greatest events. 

With its first appearance at the start of construction of the Causeway Hall, Kingston, in 1925, CCB was chosen the following year to play at the first Anzac Day ceremony on Camp Hill, at the rear of the Parliament House construction site. In those days, Duntroon did not yet have a military band. 

After struggling through the Great Depression, the band hit a setback in 1937 when bandsmen refused to perform, demanding they be employed full time. 

Annoyed by this request, Prime Minister Joseph Lyons ordered all government assistance to the band cease and the instruments – all donated – were put into storage for 10 years. 

The band started up again in 1947 at the request of Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who had grown fond of bands after visiting Britain. 

On Chifley’s instructions CCB was restored, however with the stipulation it had to become a military band with the inclusion of woodwind instruments, as the prime minister had come to appreciate the sound of concert bands from his travels abroad. 

From here, CCB played at the laying of the foundation stones for the Australian National University in 1949, played for Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Canberra after her coronation in 1954 (the first reigning monarch to do so) and even influenced the establishment of Stage 88 in 1988 after there were no suitable venues for outdoor performances. 

Now calling Hawker College on Murranji Street home for rehearsals, the CCB band falls under the Canberra City Band Inc. banner alongside three other bands with more than 100 members spread across the organisation. 

• Spectrum Big Band (formed in 1997) explores jazz music. 

• The John Agnew Band (formed in the early 2000s and named after the former CCB junior band director in recognition of his service to music) is a social concert band, welcoming musicians of all skill levels to re-engage with music or continue playing post-school.

• The recent addition, the Prism Jazz Ensemble from 2023 is another social band for all skill levels that explores jazz. 

Despite losing government funding in 1992, CCB has continued to play, even going so far as to make solo appearances to play the Last Post during the first covid lockdown outside their homes on Anzac Day in 2020. 

A fierce loyalty continues to drive the band’s community, with many life members returning to rehearsals every week, forming a consistent 30-40 players in each rehearsal. 

The 1989 National Piccolo Flute Champion Bernadette Evans (nee Keenan) has played with CCB since 1978, and continues to sit at the front of the band with her flute and piccolo. 

“When I first joined in ‘78, it was a family affair,” she says. 

“My sister joined the band with me, and my mother, who didn’t want to wait around to pick us up, set up the library system.”

Initially starting in CCB’s junior band program, Bernadette travelled to Japan with the band as representatives of Australia for Expo 85 in Tsukuba.

Entering her 47th year in the band, she is now the librarian for the organisation, having taken over from her mother. 

Bernadette is one of several life members who continue to play with the band. 

In 2013, former bandmaster and celebrated music writer, the late Bill Hoffmann and former band member the late John Sharpe, meticulously compiled the history of CCB to celebrate its 88th anniversary in a book titled Mr Chifley’s Baby, in recognition of the prime minister’s affection for the band. 

Chifley is recognised as an honorary life member of the band. 

In the introduction, former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says: “The band’s longevity is a remarkable achievement. It has survived the Great Depression, World War II and many ups and downs.”

More details at canberracityband.com

Reporter Elizabeth Kovacs has played flute and piccolo with the John Agnew Band since 2016.