Welcome to the Organ Historical Trust of Australia
A warm welcome is extended to all those interested in finding out about the pipe organ in Australia and becoming enthused about our country's remarkable organ heritage. This site contains a great deal about the Organ Historical Trust of Australia (OHTA) - its projects, research, publications, awards, appeals, conservation standards and conferences - as well as providing information about whom to contact for information about the relocation of redundant pipe organs.
An enormous amount of research and fieldwork has enabled us to build an ever-growing online database about pipe organs in Australia, including scholarly histories, technical specifications and photographs.
Dr Kelvin Hastie OAM
Chair
Organs of Australia
Many of our instruments have been documented with histories, specifications and photos.
Details will be found in the "Organs of Australia" section.
Membership
To be an effective national preservation organisation, OHTA needs your financial support as well as your advice, interest and participation. Read more on how to become a member, which includes a subscription to our journal, OHTA News.
Conferences
Our conferences are an excellent way to get to know our heritage of historical instruments intimately. Here are links to the photos and documentation of the organs visited during our conferences.
Current restoration appeals
A large number of successful organ restorations have been carried out throughout Australia over the years, ranging in size from the colossus in the Sydney Town Hall, to small chamber organs with but a handful of stops. Read more about fundraising and the current organ restoration appeals.
Redundant organs
View the list of redundant pipe organs in Australia for which new homes are currently being sought. The information of these redundant organs, where possible, will be linked to an existing page on the OHTA website.
Recent news
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Redundant Organs – September 2020
The following details have been added to the Redundant Organs list: Residence of John Atkinson, Hurstville
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Redundant Organs – June 2020
The following details have been added to the Redundant Organs list: St Leonard’s College, Brighton
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Redundant Organ Movements – June 2020
The following organ has been removed from the Redundant Organs list: St Paul’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral, Hay, NSW. E.F. Walcker & Cie, Ludwigsburg, Germany, 1887 (opus 487) to St John’s Anglican Church, Corowa, NSW
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Postponement of the 43rd OHTA Annual Conference
Dear members and friends of OHTA, By now you would all be aware of the disruptions being caused across the world by the current Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, we have found it unfortunately necessary to postpone the 43rd OHTA Annual Conference, planned to be held in Western Australia in September 2020, […]
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