The History of Cairns Municipal Band Inc.
Cairns Municipal Band (CMB) Inc. was inaugurated in 1946 when Cairns Citizens 51st Battalion Band and the Railways Band were formally amalgamated.
The first contesting success was at Maryborough in 1947, followed by the first North Queensland Brass Band Festival in Cairns in 1949.
The original Band Hall was located from the Council Gardens in Aplin St to Martin Munro Park. This was destroyed by a cyclone in 1956.
A new Band hall was established in Charles St, in 1957 and is currently in use today.
The Band Committee and musicians were intensively involved in the organization of the first ever Australian Band Contest held in Cairns in 1958.
Continued growth throughout the 1960’s led to the golden age of the Band during the 1970,s & 1980,s when the band became the Australian B Grade Champions for 3 years in a row 1976, 1977 and 1978. Contests continued in A Grade after that until 1982.
The Band participated in and led many community events throughout these years. In the late 1980’s a change of direction was promoted.
In 1991 Tropical Brass was formed and in 1995 the Cairns Concert Band followed. These groups promoted a new tropical style of more popular music with an emphasis on community entertainment.
2006 was the 60th anniversary of the Cairns Municipal Band Inc.
In 2008 a new band was formed called Cairns Youth Stage Band. Focused on youth aged 11 to 19 this band provides an opportunity for young people to develop their skills and experience in jazz and stage band performances.
The organisation continues today with an unbroken line of Brass Banding spanning a period in excess of 100 years in Cairns.