Christine Grayden applauds the musicians who built the iconic Cowes band rotunda, seen here as it was before
windows were installed in the top storey. Photo: PIDHS
By Christine Grayden
THOUSANDS of people wander past the Cowes band rotunda at the jetty triangle each year. So I thought I would give you all some background of the history of this remarkable little Cowes icon.
The Phillip Island Band was formed in 1923 with a £50 grant from the Phillip Island and Woolamai Shire Council. The band more or less kept playing until World War Two, going into recess for the whole of the war due to members serving in the forces, or being required for essential services. The band reconvened in 1948 and operated continuously until it disbanded in 1967 due to lack of players.
THOUSANDS of people wander past the Cowes band rotunda at the jetty triangle each year. So I thought I would give you all some background of the history of this remarkable little Cowes icon.
The Phillip Island Band was formed in 1923 with a £50 grant from the Phillip Island and Woolamai Shire Council. The band more or less kept playing until World War Two, going into recess for the whole of the war due to members serving in the forces, or being required for essential services. The band reconvened in 1948 and operated continuously until it disbanded in 1967 due to lack of players.
During the early years, the band practised and performed in various venues, many of which were shared by numerous other organisations. This was difficult, so the members decided to build their own band room, which became the Cowes band rotunda.
In the same year the rotunda was built – 1935 – the Anglican Parish Hall was also built., Despite having been built by voluntary labour during the Depression when quality materials were beyond the means of this relatively poor farming and tourism community, the two buildings survive today.
Where traditional band rotundas are open structures with wrought iron or decorative woodwork, the local band members decided on an enclosed design because they needed an all-weather performance venue in which to practise and store music as well. They opted for a square design because that was the least complicated for volunteers (many of whom were farmers or worked in shops) to build – especially by lamplight after a hard day’s work.
A former member of the later years of the band, Phillip Islander Laurie Dixon, told me:
In the same year the rotunda was built – 1935 – the Anglican Parish Hall was also built., Despite having been built by voluntary labour during the Depression when quality materials were beyond the means of this relatively poor farming and tourism community, the two buildings survive today.
Where traditional band rotundas are open structures with wrought iron or decorative woodwork, the local band members decided on an enclosed design because they needed an all-weather performance venue in which to practise and store music as well. They opted for a square design because that was the least complicated for volunteers (many of whom were farmers or worked in shops) to build – especially by lamplight after a hard day’s work.
A former member of the later years of the band, Phillip Islander Laurie Dixon, told me:
| “We used to hear the old band members talk about how they built the rotunda. The bottom part is all concrete form-work. They’d build one section, then they’d go back and do the next section until it was finished. It was all done by hand – no cranes to help in those days. It was very hard work! “When they were building the Rotunda they had no idea how to build the dome. So they went and saw ‘Big Jim’ Hyslop who had the newsagents and had been a bridge builder. He had a big pushbike, and used to have a little dog in a basket on it. He worked it out for them. Harry ‘Brickie’ Bennell built the dome, assisted by band members.” |
Both the unique design and method of building – readily available materials and volunteer labour by band members – were indicative of the isolation of Phillip Island in 1935. Of course other parts of Victoria were also isolated, but Phillip Island is the only island as far as we know that tackled such a challenging project as a concrete and brick band rotunda.
There was no bridge in 1935, and everything came by sea. The band members built with what they had, what they could easily get, and what they could afford as the world crawled out of the Depression era. I think they did an amazing job, all things considered.
By 1962 the band had accumulated enough funds to glass in the top of the rotunda to prevent water getting in and flooding the ground floor. Local joiners Alf Towns (a band member) and Frank “Snow” Dixon (POW of the Japanese during WWII) inserted the windows. They were fitted with padbolts so they could be removed for play-outs to enable the sound to reach the audience gathered below. Having the rotunda closed in upstairs with windows meant the band could both play and practise in the more spacious upstairs area, while using the downstairs to store the music library and music stands, etc.
There was no bridge in 1935, and everything came by sea. The band members built with what they had, what they could easily get, and what they could afford as the world crawled out of the Depression era. I think they did an amazing job, all things considered.
By 1962 the band had accumulated enough funds to glass in the top of the rotunda to prevent water getting in and flooding the ground floor. Local joiners Alf Towns (a band member) and Frank “Snow” Dixon (POW of the Japanese during WWII) inserted the windows. They were fitted with padbolts so they could be removed for play-outs to enable the sound to reach the audience gathered below. Having the rotunda closed in upstairs with windows meant the band could both play and practise in the more spacious upstairs area, while using the downstairs to store the music library and music stands, etc.
Photo: Phillip Island Band, c. 1930s. Most of these men would have built the rotunda. They were also all involved in other community activities on the island, and some have descendants still living here. Back, from left: Jack Maclean, Bob Dixon, Frank Towns, Clarrie Williams, Harold Langden, Andy Morrison and Roy Richardson. Centre: Keith McIlwraith, Ruick De La Haye, Harry De La Haye, Noel Cleeland and Dave Robb. Front: Cecil Leeson, Bryant West, Bert Bowers (Band master), Bill McLardy and Herbie Watchorn. Photo PIDHS.
The band and its rotunda were extremely important to the lives of Phillip Islanders and the thousands of visitors who holidayed here every year. The band received scores of letters from organisations which were assisted in their fundraising efforts by appearances from the band, or by collections taken up during band play-outs. In one year alone (1947-48) the band donated £447, divided between the Red Cross, Phillip Island Progress Association, Warley Bush Nursing Hospital, and the Phillip Island Shire Council for lighting and improvements to the Cowes Recreation Reserve.
Among the very many letters of thanks, they received a letter from the council thanking them for playing for the Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe, on his visit to Phillip Island in 1953, and a letter from ‘A Music Lover on Holidays’ in 1959 thanking them for the enjoyment they gave as they performed each weekend for the crowds on the beach and cenotaph area below.
Whilst the rotunda has not been used for its original purpose since 1967, it remains a functioning building, enhanced by Bass Coast Shire Council spending of $600,000 in recent years. Apart from repairs to the famous brick roof, contractors replaced the old timber windows with aluminium, widened the entry door and interior staircase, and built in a toilet and kitchen. What bliss that would have been for the band members!
The Cowes band rotunda is surely one of our most iconic and well-known buildings. As we come up to the centenary of the formation of the original Phillip Island Band, and celebrating 90 years of the band rotunda itself in 2025, it is wonderful to know that amazing and unique building is still loved and cared for. I believe it stands as a testament not just to the band but to the many thousands of volunteers who have achieved so much to weave and maintain the fabric of our community.
PIDHS has many of their collection images online at https://victoriancollections.net.au/
Among the very many letters of thanks, they received a letter from the council thanking them for playing for the Governor, Sir Rohan Delacombe, on his visit to Phillip Island in 1953, and a letter from ‘A Music Lover on Holidays’ in 1959 thanking them for the enjoyment they gave as they performed each weekend for the crowds on the beach and cenotaph area below.
Whilst the rotunda has not been used for its original purpose since 1967, it remains a functioning building, enhanced by Bass Coast Shire Council spending of $600,000 in recent years. Apart from repairs to the famous brick roof, contractors replaced the old timber windows with aluminium, widened the entry door and interior staircase, and built in a toilet and kitchen. What bliss that would have been for the band members!
The Cowes band rotunda is surely one of our most iconic and well-known buildings. As we come up to the centenary of the formation of the original Phillip Island Band, and celebrating 90 years of the band rotunda itself in 2025, it is wonderful to know that amazing and unique building is still loved and cared for. I believe it stands as a testament not just to the band but to the many thousands of volunteers who have achieved so much to weave and maintain the fabric of our community.
PIDHS has many of their collection images online at https://victoriancollections.net.au/
The elaborate brickwork of the Cowes band rotunda dome was built by band members in the 1930s. Photo: Bass Coast Shire Council