A Brief History
The Austral Salon is proud of its contribution to society and in particular its support and encouragement to young musicians over the course of the last 134 years.
The Austral Salon was formed in 1890 by a group of talented women journalists who based the Austral Salon on similar overseas clubs. The Austral Salon was to be a meeting place for professional women to discuss current issues; to be a platform for informative speakers; and for dramatic and musical entertainment. Papers read at early meetings included one on Hindu philosophy, another on Shakespearean children, and during WW 1 a paper was given on Women’s Work in War.
A musical program was the centre of all Austral Salon meetings. Solo and duet vocal items were a mainstay of the programs, while the lyrics and the music were often written by members.
Some of the early singers at Austral Salon meetings included Ada Crossley, a contralto; Amy Castles, a soprano who made her debut at an Austral Salon Annual meeting in 1899; Florence Austral a dramatic soprano and Marjorie Lawrence a soprano. Nellie Melba was an active participant at the Salon when in Melbourne.
Philanthropy was always an integral part of the Austral Salon. As early as 1891, funds were raised to send a blind student, Tilly Aston, to Melbourne University. Fundraising concerts were held to help other young artists study overseas; an aboriginal scholarship was awarded; the Austral Salon contributed significantly to appeals during both wars; the Lord Mayors’ Fund and the Melbourne Arts Centre were supported. For the 25th Anniversary of the Austral Salon, beds were established in hospitals; a bas relief tablet sculpted by Margaret Baskerville, an Austral member, was given to St Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate British nurse Edith Cavell.
From 1948 to 1986 the ‘Austral Salon Scholarship’ was awarded to music students at Melbourne University. Winners included sopranos Marie Collier and Violet Harper, and french horn player Russell Davis.
These scholarships were followed by the Austral Competitions for vocalists and instrumentalists which the Salon ran until 2005. Well known winners included bass baritones Warwick Fyfe and Laurence Meikle, soprano Lee Abrahmsen, and violinists Emma Jardine and Cameron Hill.
Since 2011 annual Awards in various categories have been made to students at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. The first winner of the Outstanding Soloist Award was violinist Emily Sheppard; other winners include pianist Oscar Jiang, guitarist Miles Johnston and bass baritone Alex Owens.
Monthly recitals to encourage and support young musicians are held at St Peter’s, East Melbourne. In recent years we have had the privilege to hear singers such as coloratura soprano Alexandra Flood, bass baritone Alex Owens and counter tenor Hamish Gould; instrumentalists have included Charlotte Miles on cello, violinist Mana Ohashi, pianists Peter de Yager and Margaret Kong, and flautist Lauren Gorman.
