Organ Historical Trust of Australia

Origin and Foundation

OHTA's establishment in 1977 took place in response to a period following World War II when several significant organs in Australia were either destroyed completely (for example, the Grand Organ erected in 1880 by George Fincham and Son in the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Victoria}, significantly altered (for example, the organs of St. Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales, St. John's Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane, Queensland, the 1926 J.E. Dodd organ of St. Francis Xavier's Catholic Cathedral, Adelaide, South Australia and the Pilgrim Uniting (originally Congregational) Church organ, also in Adelaide), or left temporarily or permanently disused while being replaced with electronic or digital organs (for example, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Newtown, New South Wales, and St. Mary's Anglican Church, Kangaroo Point, a suburb of Brisbane.)

On 13 May 1977, a public meeting was held in the Chapter House of St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, Melbourne, and OHTA was formed. At the time, the organisation was conceived as a means for extending the work of the National Trust of Australia. In 1978, OHTA was incorporated under the Victorian Companies Act 1961, directed by a Council made up of representatives from each State of Australia, and offering membership to all members of the general public. OHTA is now registered with the Australian Federal Government's Register of Cultural Organisations which allows it to receive financial gifts which are tax deductible.