After World War II there was a need to make an assessment of Army Bands. From this time the system of bands as we know it began to evolve. In 1951 Captain R.A. Newman was appointed the first Director of Music and in 1952 he commenced the Band Boy Training Class. In 1953 a central Army School of Music was established to provide standardised formal training for Army musicians from basic to bandmaster level. Until 1961, the then Major Newman held the dual responsibilities of Director of Music and Officer Commanding Army School of Music. With increasing responsibilities of the former appointment he moved to Army Headquarters in Canberra with subsequent promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

During the 1960s focus centred on the conversion from brass band to military band instrumentation. Commencing in 1964 with the Band of the Royal Military College, all Regular Army bands were converted by 1974.

Prior to the formation of the AABC, Army musicians were held on the Royal Australian Infantry Corps Special List. It was the ambition of senior band personnel to have the specialisation of music recognised by the creation of a corps. This was achieved on 2 August 1968 with the establishment of the AABC, the first Army Corps of Musicians in the world.

Organisation in war

After the creation of the AABC, many bands previously belonging to infantry battalions were reassigned corps to become area bands and were affiliated with particular host corps. Significant corps pride was serviced with Armoured Corps at Puckapunyal Camp, Artillery at Singleton, Engineers located at Casula, Corps of Signals at Kapooka and Infantry in Townsville.

Prior to the separation of the bands from the Royal Australian Regiment battalions, bandsmen had served with distinction as stretcher bearers within those battalions. Several were killed in action and a number were decorated for gallantry. These regimental bands were involved in all areas of active service including Korea, Malaya, Borneo and South Vietnam.

Re-organisation as a Corps

Since 1968 the manning and establishment of bands has been constantly reviewed to provide for the efficient organisation and operation of bands, and create career progression.

Review has also effected disbandment of bands, including four area/corps bands in the early 1970s and the North Queensland Army Band in 1984. Conversely for Reserves, in 1987 Military District and regional Army Reserve bands located in Hobart, Darwin, Perth and Newcastle were first incorporated in the AABC.


Reorganisation again impacted significantly on bands in 1993. As a result of rationalisation of the Army with a view to reduce manpower, Regular Army bands were required to reduce by 38% - some 125 positions. 50 piece bands in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne were reduced to 34, the Regular Army band in Adelaide converted to an Army Reserve regional band and the band in Perth combined with the Reserve regional band already in location.

With the disbandment of military districts as a result of organisational adjustments beginning in 1991, the titles of bands were changed to reflect location, negating the need for variation as a result of any future decisions. The new 'Australian Army Band' titles also provided a clear Army and geographical identity.

Unit Deployments - Post Vietnam

Since the end of the Vietnam War AABC soldiers have not deployed as stretcher bearers attached to Units. Duties in operational areas now involve fulfilling the corps role of maintaining morale and esprit de corps through entertaining troops. In doing so AABC personnel have deployed to:

Bougainville;

East Timor;

Solomon Islands;

Iraq; and

Afghanistan.

Municipal Recognition

The contribution of bands to the community has been recognised by the granting of Freedom of Entry to many AABC Units:

a. 1MD Band (AAB Brisbane) - City of Brisbane in 1988;

b. 1MD Band (AAB Brisbane) - City of Gold Coast in 1989;

c. 1MD Band (AAB Brisbane) - Shire of Redland in 1989;

d. 3MD Band (AAB Melbourne) - City of Melbourne in 1990;

e. AAB Melbourne - City of Traralgon in 1992;

f. AAB Perth - City of Perth in 1992;

g. AAB Sydney - City of Sydney in 1994;

h. AAB Darwin - City of Darwin in 2003; and

i. RMC Band - City of Canberra in 2004.



Honorary Colonels

In 1980 Brigadier J.J. Shelton DSO, MC was appointed as the first AABC Honorary Colonel. Prior to his retirement from the Regular Army he served with great distinction with the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. Brigadier Shelton served as the AABC Honorary Colonel for 14 years.

In July 1994 Brigadier I.J.C. Hearn AO was appointed AABC Honorary Colonel. Also an officer of the Royal Australian Infantry, Brigadier Hearn had previously served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, the only battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment to retain a military band rather than pipes and drums.