Background

In 2016, Edith Cowan University received an unprecedented and historic gift – the Stewart Symonds Keyboard Instrument Collection. Painstakingly and intelligently assembled by Australian collector Stewart Symonds, the collection is widely recognised as one of the most significant in the world, and is of immense cultural value. Now preserved for posterity at Edith Cowan University, the Collection comprises 140 instruments – including Australia’s First Piano. It offers a wide selection of exceptionally rare – in some instances, unique – stringed keyboard instruments dating from 1736 to 1874. including an English bentside spinet, and breathtaking examples of square, grand and cabinet pianos.

We welcome special friends, donors and champions to be part of our incredible, multi-phase journey to establish the Centre for Keyboard Performance and Research (WAAPA). The Centre will not only be world-leading but inspirational and attract the best international piano and keyboard teachers, performers, researchers and students.

Through this program you will become our ambassadors and contribute to the restoration and future opportunities offered by instruments in this rare collection. Your involvement will deeply enrich the cultural life of Australia, now and for generations to come.

Stewart Symonds

Collection

The procurement of the Collection was facilitated by WAAPA Professor Geoffrey Lancaster AM after working closely with Dr Symonds to research his book The First Fleet Piano: A musician’s view. Dr. Symonds has been collecting historic pianos since the late 1960s. After reaching storage capacity at his home in Ermington, he donated the esteemed collection to ECU/WAAPA to continue his legacy.

‘They were everywhere, in storage, the garage, sheds, even on the veranda’, Dr Symonds said. Many of the instruments are not in playing order, as Dr Symonds put the Collection together not for performance, but as a collection celebrating the design and innovation of the piano in its progress through time.

Dr Symonds has quietly assembled his extraordinary collection over the past 50 years. He is proud of his work and is pleased to facilitate a unique learning opportunity for future generations.

Australia’s First Piano

Australia’s First Piano is an English square piano that was built in London in 1786. It was brought to Australia by George Worgan aboard the flagship of the First Fleet, the Sirius. Considerably smaller than a modern piano, its legs can be folded away for storage. Records show that it was used in recital onboard the Sirius as the ship lay at anchor in Rio de Janeiro en route to Australia. Before leaving Sydney Cove, Worgan gave the piano to Elizabeth Macarthur, one of the colony’s most distinguished women. In Sydney, Worgan had taught Elizabeth the piano. It was sold on and off until 1838, and that was the last it was heard of until 1965.

An eminent antiques dealer, William Bradshaw, purchased it in 1965 and kept it in his private collection for a number of years until Stewart Symonds obtained it. As such, this is not only the first piano in Australia, it is also the first piano upon which piano lessons were given, by the first piano teacher in Australia – the acquisition of Australia’s First Piano is a major boon for the cultural and academic life of WAAPA and ECU.

Left - Professor Geoffrey Lancaster am and Dr Stewart Symonds with Australia’s First Piano

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