The Geelong Memorial Brass Band

Supporting the local music community for decades

The band playing at Osborne House in December 2016.

Beginning in 1946, the Geelong Memorial Brass Band has provided entertainment to the Geelong community for more than 75 years.

The Geelong Memorial Brass Band was started as a living memorial to the fallen men and women of the two world wars, and their uniform reflects the Army, Navy and Airforce services. The band’s connection to Osborne House dates back 60 years to when the Shire of Corio offered the band a practice space within the stables in 1961.

The brass band’s rooms at the stables served as a practice space as well as a secure clubroom for displaying their memorabilia. It was also a space that fostered wellbeing and allowed band members to nurture friendships and remember their past band members.

“FOR ALMOST 60-YEARS, EVERYONE KNEW THE STABLES AT OSBORNE HOUSE IS WHERE YOU’D FIND THE GEELONG MEMORIAL BRASS BAND,” BAND SECRETARY COLIN WHITEHAND SAID.

“Many wonderful times were had by members and their families at Osborne House. We had BBQs in the quadrangle and Christmas parties for the kids.”

During the band’s 60-year tenure at Osborne House, the band provided music for many remembrance services and other community events around the Geelong area. The Geelong Memorial Brass Band spent many years playing Christmas Carols in Osborne Park for the local residents. “They used to love to get involved when we played on the verandah of Osborne House. They’d be singing and dancing away,” Colin said. The band is still highly active within the community and has played at many recent events, including Geelong After Dark, Pako Festa and the Australia Day celebrations at Rippleside Park. The band currently has another practice space, provided by the City of Greater Geelong, in Roseneath Street, at the back of the Geelong Resource Recovery Centre. Colin said the band’s long-term aim was to re-establish their practice space within the stables.

“We consider the stables to be the home of the band. It’s been that way for almost 60 years, and we’d definitely like to get back in there,” Colin said. The band’s view is that any redevelopment of Osborne House and its lands should offer provision for public spaces.

The stables - The Geelong Memorial Brass Band’s home since 1961.

“The sloping hill down towards the bay provides a perfect natural sound shell. This would be a beautiful setting for bands to play in front of live audiences.” Colin Whitehand

Secretary, Geelong Memorial Brass Band

Colin said that the redevelopment could give the “public access to enjoy the grounds for such things as picnic areas, walking areas, and a café to provide light meals.” The band also considers there is plenty of scope to return the gardens to their former glory with new planting and landscaping. As part of this landscaping, the band also observes that the venue could host many musical events. “There are not many rotundas left in Geelong, and this would be a wonderful addition to the outdoor locations where bands can play in Geelong.” The band sees that Osborne House has the potential to be developed into a convention centre for weddings and other events, and “it could be a major attraction for the Geelong area,” said Colin.

The band would also like to see a museum set up at Osborne House under the redevelopment. “It’s sad that many people in the Geelong area don’t know where Osborne House is or anything about its history. There could be a museum set up which covers the heritage of Osborne House and surrounding grounds from when Wadawurrung people cared for the land to the present day,” Colin said. For the Geelong Memorial Brass Band’s complete response, click here.

The Geelong Memorial Brass Band outside their practice rooms in February 2016.