In Jan 85, 23 staff and students of the RAN School of Music moved from HMAS CERBERUS. These relocations marked the end of the junior musician training schemes of both services and the commencement of adult training. The School was officially opened on 30 Oct 84 by the then Governor General of Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen.







As a result of manpower reductions in the Australian Army Band Corps (AABC) in 1993, and changes to the recruiting philosophy of the RAN Band Branch, together with the non-involvement of the RAAF, there was a steady decline in the number of personnel undergoing Initial Employment Training (IET). As a consequence it became increasingly difficult to maintain the appropriate level of training required for the senior courses, as each of the advanced courses relied significantly on IET members to provide the necessary personnel for training. With the collocation of AAB(M) in Dec 97, was again able to offer the necessary training conditions for the advanced courses.

The Pipes and Drums Section was first formed at the Defence Force School of Music in the Mid 1980s but was closed after only several years of operation. In 1990 the section was re-raised at Singleton, NSW as part of the School of Infantry and continued to operate under the Infantry umbrella until it was once again returned to Simpson Barracks in 1999.