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From the humble origins of a simple brass bugle, the Sale City Band has flourished over the past 150 years to become one of the area's premier brass bands.

The first instrument brought into Sale by early explorers in the 1840s was a single brass bugle. In the early days of Sale's settlement, as the gold rush boomed in the 1850s, an expedition to Sale brought a drum band to the area. Shortly after a fife drum band was formed.

It was reported in the Gippsland Times on 19 December 1871 that the Sale Drum and Fife Band had been reorganised under the instruction of its old bandmaster, Mr. E. Carey, and was making very satisfactory progress.

It numbered 20 members, some of whom formed part of the original group. It practised three times a week, and Mr. Carey was hopeful that in a week or two he would be able "to bring out a portion to enable the public to judge of the progress made."

With the encouragement of the local community the Sale Brass Band formed in late 1872, as an addition to the recently formed Drum and Fife Band. The bandmaster of Sale's first brass band was Mr George Chapman Jr. a local music shop proprietor.

The band promised to become a most efficient acquisition to the township of Sale.

The members met twice a week for rehearsal at the remotest part of the town, which in itself was most advantageous to themselves and the populace - they not being disturbed in their inititatory exercises and the inhabitants not being bored with dull unmeaning sounds.

The Sale Borough Council Chambers was the venue often used for the Band's annual meetings which were usually chaired by the Mayor or his designate, a tradition which has been followed to this day. The Council Chambers, now occupied by the Sale Historical Society in Foster Street, is coincidently next door to the current band premises.

A public meeting was held on Tuesday, 20 June 1876, at the Council Chambers where the Sale Borough Band was formally constituted. Mr R Topping (the Mayor) was chairman and Mr H Maynard was appointed Bandmaster.

A public subscription amounting to £123 was raised for the purchase of instruments and equipment. About £100 was spent in the purchase of instruments, and the balance was handed by the original fundraising committee to the Band for current expenses.

Mr Maynard undertook the management at a remuneration of £30 per annum and a weekly fee of 1s 6d from each member for tuition.

1. Ring, Ring the Banjo
2. Minnie Clyde
3. Selection from Traviata
4. Sale Bandsmen's Quick Step (H. Maynard)
5. Gippsland Railway Polka (H. Maynard).
6. Finale. God Save the Queen

With the advent of the Gippsland Railway to Sale in the late 1870s the Band was most often engaged to meet the train on special occassions and play to the returning residents and visitors. The Band played "Home, Sweet Home" so frequently that it became the theme to play at the railway station on these occassions.

The Sale Borough Band often held excursions on one of the ferries down to the lakes entertaining as they went. In March 1887 the band announced its third "Moonlight Excursion" on the Steamer "Omeo" leaving the Union Bridge at 7:00pm for an evening's run to Lake Wellington.

The Victoria Hall (recently Gippsland Party Hire building) was another popular venue for band recitals and concerts. From 1879 some wonderful concerts were held in this hall and always the Sale Borough Band was always part of the entertainment. Although the band was 'just' mentioned, they always played well and made a large contribution to the success of the evening.

In April 1897 the Sale Borough Band made use of the new bandstand erected on the Market square - now in the vicinity of Victoria Park.

From the 1920s the band was known as the Sale Brass Band and continued on its busy performing schedule including performing in such places as the balcony of the Criterion Hotel with people dancing in the street below.

Mr Arthur H F Taylor of East Kew, was appointed bandmaster in May 1920. Prior to the war, Mr Taylor was a very successful Bandmaster at Castlemaine for seven years. He matriculated at the Melbourne University and then took up music as a profession passing university examinations in piano and violin.

After about 12 months Mr Taylor accepted an appointment to a metropolitan band and Mr Andy Matthews of Warragul was appointed bandmaster to the Sale Brass Band in 1921. He had been in charge of several bands in the city and was the current bandmaster of Warragul Citizens Band. The band progressed to a very high standard under his direction.

Band practices were held in a big room at the back of a second-hand dealers shop which was run by Mr Joe Shankley situated in York Street next to the Criterion Hotel. In his report to the Band Committee in March 1922 Mr Matthews declared that the band was forced to hold rehearsals in this unsuitable band room. It was a room where a large amount of furniture was stored and chairs were suspended from the rafters interfering with the acoustics. It was a dirty room and not suitable for visitors.The room was not always available to members and its entrance was very dangerous and almost impossible for a stranger to locate.

During the next few years, in fact, the standard was so high that band was preparing to go to the South Street Competitions in Ballarat. However, there were so many players who could not get leave of absence from their jobs that they were unable to compete. At this time the band used the Drill Hall for practice on two nights a week and also Sunday mornings.

In about 1930, the Band moved to a small hall in Macalister Street, between York and Raymond Streets. Later in the 1930's the Band moved to its present site in Foster Street. The building at that time was an old bag lined Fire Station with a shingles and bark roof and dirt floor. Possums used to camp in it and didn't care much about the music. The possums would run around on the timbers supporting the bag lining and shower all players with dust.

Herb Thornton was the Bandmaster 1933-34. Herb wasn't very old and had great ambitions. He wanted the Band to play above its ability. One night the Band was playing for a Carnival on the corner of Cunningham and Desailly Streets at the site of the old Post Office. The selected piece was El Travatore. Somewhere along the way players got lost and dropped out. The only player left, Don Reice, carried on at full blast to the end of the strain before Herb could stop him.

Bert Warren was the next Bandmaster (1935-36). During this time massed bands were held at the various nearby towns of Maffra, Traralgon, Morwell and Sale. Massed band performances were held in each town in turn, one Sunday every month during the summertime. These days were very enjoyable and the people of the towns would turn out in good numbers.

Sale held its massed band day at the Band Rotunda in Victoria Park, an ideal setting. The rotunda was big enough for the Sale Band, but when a few players from other bands joined in to give a hand, something like 30 or 40 players wouldn't fit so they would have to sit on seats on the ground. In those days not every one had a car, so the crowds used to be good.

After Bert Warren left, Angus Reece and Bill Herron between them carried the Band on until the outbreak of WWII. The Band went into recess during the war and many of the members joined the Armed Forces. During the war years the Royal Australian Airforce Bombing and Gunnery School at West Sale borrowed the instruments from the Sale Town Council, who were the trustees of the Band equipment.

The smartly-uniformed band proudly bears the jacket motif designed by Jill Williams, mother of young bandsmen Hugh and Lloyd, and who styled the logo on a doubleclef.

October 2010 saw the band embark on quite a unique performance when it combined with the Sale Theatre Company to present six performances of the play Brassed Off at the Stratford Courthouse Theatre.

Not only did the band provide the enthralling music for this play, the members were also all involved in the action of the play. A notable highlight was that of Liz Doyle (Secretary in 2009) who performed the lead female romantic role which included the flugelhorn solo Concierto de Aranjuez.

Commemerating the century of the World War I armistice the band provided entertainment for the RSL organised Armistice Ball.

The Sale City Band have so much to celebrate in 2021.

The Band commenced its 150 years celebrations with a surprise visit to Life Member and esteemed bandsman with a surprise visit to his doorstep to play "Happy Birthday" on his 90th birthday. Ray has been in the band for over 50 years. During this time he has taken on the rolls of Bandmaster, President, Committee member and educator.

2021 marks the band's 150th year making it one of the oldest Brass Bands in Victoria. Having survived through Wars,hard financial times,the Spanish Infuenza and recent pandemic, the Sale City Band has remained strong.

President Mike and Publicity Officer Tom are interviewed on ABC Gippsland to publicise the band's 150th anniversary.