Prior to radio, songs were largely heard performed in music halls. People would then visit music shops to purchase the sheet music of tunes they liked.

Harley Cohan, from Mudgee, NSW, studied drama and elocution before enlisting in 1915.

This 1915 recording of If England wants a Hand, Well, Here It Is is sung by Harrison Latimer.

Boys of the Dardanelles, which commemorates the sacrifice made by Australians in the First World War, is the best-known composition by Marsh Little (1880 - 1958) and was particularly effective

Of all the patriotic songs of WW1, Australia Will Be There is probably the one best known to Australians.

When the War is Over, Mother Dear was recorded at all is a testament to its popularity at the time.

In the first half of the 20th century, music was commercialised on 78 rpm shellac discs which could hold a little over three minutes on each side.

'Ballarat the Fair’, performed by Robert Nicholson; Composer: Ernest Grenfell; Lyricist: Henry Brew. Broadcast (De Luxe Series) W555

Register with the NFSA as a musical accompanist.

In 1979 two young Australians invented the first Fairlight sampling synthesizer and changed electronic music forever. We have one in working condition!