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 organ: Lifeway (formerly St Mark’s) Lutheran Church, Epping
Lifeway (formerly St Mark’s) Lutheran Church, Epping George Fincham & Sons, Melbourne, 1972 (‘Positiv’ organ) Installed in present location 1973 from Ormond College Chapel, Parkville, Vic 1 manual, 5 speaking stops, no pedals, mechanical action Dimensions: [not supplied] Contact: Mark Simpfendorfer 02 9876 2574 or 0413 836 340 or mark.simpfendorfer@lifeway.net.au
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2018 OHTA Conference – Sydney, NSW
Planning is well advanced for this year’s conference. This will feature visits to the significant collection of 19th century instruments by noted English builders in NSW. There will be a concert on the famous Hill at Sydney Town Hall and a paper discussing the Hill legacy. A day will be […]
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Splendours on the Hill – Volume One
This exciting new disc gives fresh voice to one of Sydney’s best preserved historic organs, with a very wide variety of pieces that showcase the instrument’s dual personalities as both a Liturgical and concert organ. Kurt Ison is the Convener of the Christ Church St Laurence Sydney’s successful monthly organ […]
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Soaring Sounds
The choice of music in the first commercial recording of the 1877 Hill & Son concert organ at Tanunda has been influenced by works performed on the organ when it was placed in Adelaide Town Hall and played upon by distinguished local and overseas performers up to the visit of […]
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