Coastal Scottish Pipe Band WA Inc
Established 1898
Band History
In tracing the history of Coastal Scottish Pipe Band WA we journey back to Fremantle in the year 1898.
In that year a group of expatriate Scottish men, records of their identities unfortunately do not exist, established a band of pipers and drummers, which called themselves the Gay Gordons and adopted the Gordon tartan in their highland uniform.
These men, all colleagues and workers at the Fremantle Railway Workshops eventually built up a pipe band to the strength of ten pipers, two side drummers and one bass drummer. At the same time a brass band was formed by other workers at the same workshops with no less than thirty members.
The only other known pipe band to have formed in the era was in the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie, east of Perth, and this became the Eastern Goldfields Pipe Band.
The strength of the Gay Gordons was however, short-lived because of two factors.
Firstly the intervention of the South African Boer War saw an outburst of patriotism and strong support in British Colonies and more than twelve hundred men enlisted from Western Australia. It is thought that some men of the band were amongst these enlistments, which saw six contingents of approximately two hundred soldiers leave Fremantle’s shores from 1899 to 1901. A pipe band was established by those in uniform and was called the WA. Highland Pipe Band, however this unit disbanded in 1905 after the end of hostilities and the return of regiments to Australia.
Secondly, the Fremantle Railway Workshops were relocated to Midland, which would have seen the band, now recovering from the effects on numbers from Boer War activities, having to attract new members from the Midland area and also persuade ex Fremantle players to remain active with them.
Most families did not have vehicles at this time and public transport had to be relied on. This made it difficult for pipers and drummers to travel to band practice.
The Perth and Fremantle Caledonian Societies by this time were established, organising and providing social and cultural activities demanded by the many expatriate Scots now settled in Perth.
Every year on New Years Day and also at Easter, Highland sports and games, dancing and solo piping and drumming contests were held with elaborate trophies and prizes being awarded by wealthy businessmen and pastoralists.
By 1906 the Gay Gordons had reformed to sufficient strength and subject to some contemporary debate, evidence both photographic and verbal sees the band affiliate with the Perth Caledonian Society and rename itself the Perth Caledonian Society Pipe Band. The Band retained its Highland uniform and the Gordon tartan.
Very little is known of the band’s activities from this period until the advent of the First World War when Australia was enjoying her social adolescence.
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From 1913, the band was seen to be taking an active part in the social activities of Perth. New Years Day’s of 1913/1914 were days of Scottish music, competitions and sports.
The band had built itself impressively to eight pipers and five drummers with J. Innes (Vice President), J.M. Gillan (Pipe Major), C.Gilten (Drum Major), A.M.Low (Pipe Sergeant), and M.H.D. Donaldson (Hon. Secretary and Treasurer).
Regretfully, hostilities in Europe saw Australia again involved in a war of colonial and empirical patriotism that was to involve many thousands of young Australian men, their families and unfortunately, many lives. West Australians, Australians, men and youths conscripted themselves to the defence of King and Country.
The affect of this event on the band was to see numbers diminished to a level where it was decided to go into recess until the cessation of hostilities. This, everyone know, would be a matter of only a few months, possibly a year at the most. Three years later, thousands of lives later, the remainder returned to Australian shores, many incapacitated, shell shocked and bewildered at the call of victory.
1918 saw the reformation of the band, now to be known as the Coastal Scottish Pipe Band, its uniform still the Gordon tartan.
Moving into the 1920’s saw the beginning of a new and revitalised band with its recognition growing yearly. During these years the band’s reputation was established to the general community as the finest in Western Australia. Coastals had not yet fully developed in a competition band due to the very lack of competition in Western Australia.
It is said that from 1924 to 1926, John Archie MacAskill, an expatriate Scot who migrated from the Outer Hebrides in search of a better life, was Pipe Major of the band. He was from a family of prominent pipers and poets, he himself being able to write poetry in the Gaelic script. However his life ended at the age of thirty-six apparently succumbing to loneliness and homesickness. He had been working as a farm labourer in the wheat belt area during the depression years. His unmarked grave in Karrakatta Cemetery was discovered by his Scottish nephew, Dr. John MacAskill in 1982 and was fittingly erected with a headstone. The grave was honoured by piper John Burgess who was asked to play a series of laments and was accompanied with a representation from the WA. Piping Society.
By 1927 the Scottish Union had been firmly established in Perth and its schedule of that year lists the organisations associated with it. These include the Perth and Fremantle Caledonian Societies, Midland Junction Thistle Society, the Caledonian Pipe Band and the Coastal (Scottish) Pipe Band.
1926-27 also saw the introduction of a new uniform and tartan by the band. The Charles Edward Stewart tartan was adopted and was to remain with the band until 1938, however no explanation can be given why this change occurred and the reason for the choice of this particular tartan.
In 1928 the band entered its first competition with an Eastern States pipe band whose identity is unknown. This, amongst other festivities, was to celebrate the 1929 Centenary of the founding of the Swan River Colony and was held at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground in East Perth. Other Scottish and Highland events were also said to be held at the same venue.
Unfortunately, in the same year, saw the intervention of the great economic depression that slowly enveloped and in some way or another affected the living standards of each family in the state. Unemployment rose steadily, then rapidly, causing social hardships and in many cases, outright poverty.
The Coastal Scottish Pipe Band had difficulty in holding sufficient numbers of playing members for turnouts and even the number of engagements declined with the lack of money in the greater society. Many bandsmen, as with others holding family responsibilities, were laid off in their jobs and experienced difficulty in finding alternative work in the metropolitan area. Those who were unskilled were forced into rural areas hoping to find some form of income.
The 1930’s saw yet another period of rebuilding for the band after the depression and apparently by 1938 band activities were in full swing again. So much so that it was again decided to adopt a new tartan to the existing uniform. The Charles Edward Stewart was dropped in favour of the very popular Royal Stewart tartan in 1929. This change was made when the Prince Charles Edward Stuart was difficult to purchase. With the two tartans being similar, in later years some items of both tartans were worn in attempt to outfit the increasing number of members.
In 1936 the 16th Cameron Highland Regiment had been formed in Perth and had been enlisting men, many of whom were still unemployed from the Depression, who were to undergo full military training. A pipe band was formed within this unit and was established by pipers and drummer from both the Coastals and Caledonian Pipe Bands. This band was fully operational and equipped by 1938. At regular intervals the men were stationed and did training on Rottnest Island and eventually experienced active military service during World War II.
The 1939-45 hostilities interrupted the community recuperating from the effects of Depression. Some band members were lost to service in the forces however, and quite surprisingly, the band during this conflict held its strength, ability and reputation.Pipe band competitions had ceased during these years and the contests were not to be held again until 1946. Coastals were able to field a strong band immediately after the war with most returning men coming back to play with the band.
By Easter 1946 the band regained full strength, particularly in its competition ability and competed in a three band contest at Midland Oval against the Fremantle Highland Pipe Band and the WA. Caledonian Pipe Band. In 1947 a similar contest was
held with the inclusion of the Perth Highland Pipe Band who won the event. Over a series of six competitions in the following years saw the Coastals win three and Perth Highland win three.
In 1952, or thereabouts, Coastals initiated a move to relieve the responsibilities and administration of pipe band, piping and drumming activities from the WA Scottish Union. An independent body was formed called the WA. Pipers and Drummers Society which is the forerunner of today’s APBA - WA Branch. This Branch is part of the Australian movement that looks after the interests of the member bands, administers competitions and organises education and activities to foster the pipe band movement.
During the 1950’s and up until the late 1960’s Coastal was actively engaged in social turnouts and reached its peak in competition performances, winning the WA “A” grade competitions many years in succession. The Band’s recognition in the general community, which after all brought in the income, was certainly at its highest and this is seen by the frequency of its public exposure.
Weekend country tours were also organised. Leaving by a fleet of private cars on a Friday afternoon, saw the band travel and perform at such places as Margaret River, Busselton, Collie, Harvey and Dalwallinu, and then return on a Sunday afternoon. Metropolitan engagements included dances at the Maylands Caledonian Hall, Thistle Society dances at the Railway Hotel Midland, the Annual St. Andrew’s Ball at the Pagoda, Canterbury and Embassy Ballrooms and several massed band socials.During the first visit of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to Western Australia in 1954 pipe bands were engaged to entertain the crowds as they waited the arrival of the Royal couple. Royalty was highly regarded in these times and many thousands of people crowded the route to be taken by the Queen and Duke. Bands were told not to play as the Royal Couple went past but to stand to attention. However, Drum Major at the time, Jimmy Hewitt thought it a waste of time not to show what Coastals could do and so the order was given to play. The Band was subsequently chosen to accompany the Royal Entourage to the South West of the state and play at the various parades associated with the visit. The tour included Albany and Busselton with several parades in Perth. On the final review in Perth the Royal couple had become so familiar with the sounds of the Band that the Duke of Edinburgh remarked during his inspection of the Band as to whom was following who during the tour.
Many bands were using the popular Royal Stewart tartan and so when it became necessary to renew kilts it was decided to choose a tartan that was not being used by any other band. And so, in 1968-69 the Ancient MacLaine of Loch Buie was chosen as the one most liked by the members. The Ancient MacLaine of Loch Buie colours of the new tartan, an imitation of the original vegetable dyes, could be considered as a reflection of the ancient history of the Band. The Highland uniform was then dropped in favour of a dress uniform consisting of green tweed jacket, light green shirt and dark green tie, plain leather sporran, off white hose, green flashes and glengarry with badge. Pipe bag covers were of plain blue velvet with a white fringe.
The band was renamed City of South Perth Pipe Band in 1975. This change of name was made at the request from the Mayor and councillors of the South Perth Council to formally affiliate the pipe band to the city of South Perth as the band had been practicing in South Perth for many years The band agreed and gained an enviable reputation as such. In 1986, at the Australian Championships in Adelaide, under the direction of Pipe Major Stephen Young, first place in the Grade 2 Medley competition was achieved.
By that time women were also included in the ranks of the band which had been a sole man-business up until 1983.
Those days remain in history which is best shown by the fact that the current Pipe Major of Coastals is a woman.
In 1998 it was time for celebration. The band achieved their one hundred years of existence and a major reunion dinner and concert was given. The highlight of the evening for many was the drum salute, performed by seventeen drummers, both past and present members of the band.
Some of the past members had not played for nearly 20 years.
In 2001 the City of South Perth council reviewed its position and no longer stood as sponsor of the band. In view of this decision it was concluded that another change of name was required. On 28th August 2001 the band unanimously voted to be known by their former name of Coastal Scottish Pipe Band WA. This name change became official on the 18th January 2002.
