The Austral Salon of Music, Literature and the Fine Arts also known as the Austral Salon is a club that was established for women interested in the fine arts in Melbourne.
Establishment
The Austral Salon was founded in January 1890 by female journalists led by
Mary Hirst Browne, as a meeting place for women writers.
The
Countess of Hopetoun, wife of the Victorian Governor, later first Governor-General of Australia, was the Salon’s first Patron.
Journalist
Agnes Murphy, poet
Ada Cambridge and journalist
Catherine Hay Thomson were among the founders of the Austral Salon.
The club was originally located at 115-119 Collins Street, Melbourne in the
Austral Building
The Austral Building is a broadly English Queen Anne revival building located at 115-119 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. It was designed by noted Melbourne architect, Nahum Barnet, built in 1890, and housed noted literary and artistic te ...
.
Activities
Before the opening of the
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music is the music school at the University of Melbourne and part of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. It is located near the Melbourne City Centre on the Southbank campus of the University of Melbourne.
Degree ...
the Austral club helped aspiring musicians. Artists such as
Ada Crossley
Ada Jemima Crossley (3 March 1871 – 17 October 1929) was an Australian contralto notable as the first RCA Victor Red Seal, Red Seal recording artist engaged in the US by the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1903.
Born at Tarraville, Gippslan ...
,
Amy Castles,
Florence Austral
Florence Austral (26 April 1892 – 15 May 1968) was an Australian operatic soprano renowned for her interpretation of the most demanding Wagnerian female roles, although she never gained the opportunity to appear at the Bayreuth Festival or New ...
,
Marjorie Lawrence and
Nellie Melba performed at the Austral Salon.
The Salon was one of the first four groups to affiliate with the National Council of Women of Victoria in 1902.
The Salon continues as The Austral Salon of Music, a Melbourne society committed to encouraging young musicians that holds regular recitals at St Peters Church, East Melbourne.
See also
*
Austral Building
The Austral Building is a broadly English Queen Anne revival building located at 115-119 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. It was designed by noted Melbourne architect, Nahum Barnet, built in 1890, and housed noted literary and artistic te ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Austral Salon
Women's clubs in Australia
1890 establishments in Australia