Return to Contents Page

List of All Known Australian Theatre Organs - Past and Present

Hyperlinks in the "Size" column are to stoplists of the organs

Hyperlinks in the "Building" column are to detailed studies of the organs at those locations 

Use your browser's "Back" function to return to this page after you have followed the hyperlink

 Last updated: 24/2/02

Date	Builder	Opus	Size	State	Town	Building	Comment
(Instruments in Italics are believed no longer to exist in any recognisable form)
		Part 1 - Unit Organs Wurlitzer Organs
06/1917	Wurlitzer	129	2/7?	New South Wales	Blakehurst	Residence, Dodd E	Piano console
	Wurlitzer	129	2/7?	New South Wales	Sydney	Romano's Restaurant
24/08/1940	Wurlitzer	129	2/7	New South Wales	Wentworthville	Regent Theatre	Horseshoe console
/1951	Wurlitzer	129	2/7	New South Wales	Castle Hill	In Store, Baldwin M
/1960	Wurlitzer	129	2/7	New South Wales	Sydney	Residence, Newell G
/1975	Wurlitzer	129	2/7	New South Wales	Belmore	Masonic Hall	Current status of organ unknown. Console to Terry Lloyd, Canberra
12/1917	Wurlitzer	150	2/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Melba Theatre	Style 1
00/1951	Wurlitzer	150	2/4	Victoria	Melbourne	In Store, Browne M	Pipes (3 ranks) and chest only
16/11/1918	Wurlitzer	157	2/6	Tasmania	Hobart	Strand Theatre	"Special"
/1940	Wurlitzer	157	2/6	Tasmania	Hobart	In Store, Shield R
/1945	Wurlitzer	157	2/6	Tasmania	Hobart	In Store, McCann F
/1952	Wurlitzer	157	2/6	New South Wales	Hurstville	Presbyterian Church	Rebuilt by HN&B - only the Flute rank is left of the Wurlitzer pipework
03/1919	Wurlitzer	202	2/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Majestic Theatre	Style 135
06/1943	Wurlitzer	202	3/4	Victoria	Prahran	Residence, Avery G
/1967	Wurlitzer	202	3/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Residence, Donovan G
/1975	Wurlitzer	202	3/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Residence, Hamilton, G
/2000	Wurlitzer	202	3/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Storage
03/1922	Wurlitzer	324	2/4	New South Wales	Sydney	Rialto Theatre	Style 135
01/04/1924	Wurlitzer	324	2/4	New South Wales	Sydney	Lyric/Wintergarden Theatre	Possibly incorporated in Arthur Lord's residence organ
06/1922	Wurlitzer	359	2/7	Victoria	Melbourne	De Luxe Theatre	Style 185 with player
/1927	Wurlitzer	359	2/7	Victoria	Melbourne	Paramount Theatre	Organ was incorporated in Opus 1902 for Regent, Melbourne, 1947
/1921	Wurlitzer	388	2/7	New South Wales	Elizabeth Bay	"Toftmonks", Residence, Crowle	"Special"
06/1928	Wurlitzer	388	2/7	Victoria	Geelong	Residence, Hearne
	Wurlitzer	388	2/7	Victoria	Melbourne	storage
05/04/1999	Wurlitzer	416	4/36	Victoria	Melbourne	Regent Theatre	Style 285 . Built 1921 for Granada (Paramount) Theatre, San Francisco as 4/32, later to Vollum residence, Portland, Or., USA
11/08/1924	Wurlitzer	637	3/15	Victoria	Melbourne	Capitol Theatre	Style 260 1st organ in Aust with console lift
27/04/1967	Wurlitzer	637	3/15	Victoria	Brighton	Dendy Theatre	Reinstalled in rebuilt theatre. Owned by TOSA (Vic)
01/08/1924	Wurlitzer	748	2/7	Queensland	Brisbane	Wintergarden Theatre	Style 185 with player and echo chamber
09/07/1938	Wurlitzer	748	2/8	New South Wales	Sydney	Plaza Theatre	Tibia by Dodd added
/1958	Unspecific (Composite)	748	4/16	New South Wales	Bexley	Residence, Hughes P	Console ex-Wurlitzer Op. 1987 (slave console)
/1971	Unspecific (Composite)	748	4/16	Northern Territory	Darwin	Residence, Pfitzner M
02/04/1983	Unspecific (Composite)	748	4/29	South Australia	Goodwood	Capri Theatre	Owned by TOSA (SA) as is theatre. Opened in 1982 as 4/13 and gradually enlarged to 4/29. Completed 1995
22/11/1924	Wurlitzer	875	2/10	New South Wales	Sydney	Prince Edward Theatre	Style H
27/11/1968	Wurlitzer	875	2/11	New South Wales	Marrickville	Town Hall	Owned by TOSA (NSW)
08/02/1926	Wurlitzer	1167	2/10	New South Wales	Chatswood	Arcadia Theatre	Style H
04/1972	Wurlitzer	1167	2/11	New South Wales	Chatswood	Town Hall (Willoughby)
09/12/1987	Wurlitzer	1217	3/12	New South Wales	Cremorne	Orpheum Theatre	Built 1925 for Wilson Theatre, Fresno, Cal., USA as Style 235
20/11/1985	Wurlitzer	1716	3/9	Tasmania	Hobart	St Michael's School	Organ was installed previously: 1927 Madame Tussaud's Cinema, London (Style F) 1952 Palace Ballroom, Blackpool 1962 Rooks residence, Yeovil Owned by TOSA (Tas)
05/01/1928	Wurlitzer	1728	2/8	South Australia	Adelaide	Regent Theatre	Style F . Organ was shipped to Adelaide but sent straight on to Perth without being installed there (it was too small for the Adelaide)
25/08/1928	Wurlitzer	1728	2/12	Western Australia	Perth	Regent/Metro Theatre	Enlarged by Wurlitzer in late 1928 (opened as 2/8)
03/10/1981	Wurlitzer	1728	3/20	Western Australia	Karrinyup	Civic Centre	Owned by John Fuhrman and Ray Clements
09/03/1928	Wurlitzer	1730	2/8	New South Wales	Sydney	Regent Theatre	Style F
10/05/1929	Wurlitzer	1730	2/12	Victoria	Melbourne	Plaza Theatre	Additions by Wurlitzer
12/12/1970	Wurlitzer	1730	2/12	South Australia	Adelaide	Pulteney Grammar School	Owned by TOSA (SA)
11/03/1929	Wurlitzer	1808	3/15	New South Wales	Sydney	Regent Theatre	Style 260. This organ was shipped for Capitol, Perth, but sent to Sydney instead to replace Opus 1730, which was too small for the theatre
/1964	Wurlitzer	1808	3/15	New South Wales	Sydney	In store, Sharp R
27/11/1986	Wurlitzer	1808	3/15	New South Wales	Allawah	Residence, Atkinson J
07/04/1928	Wurlitzer	1813	3/15	New South Wales	Sydney	Capitol Theatre	Style 260
04/01/1989	Wurlitzer	1813	3/17	New South Wales	Campsie	Orion Theatre	(Owned by TOSA (NSW)
00/00/1961	Wurlitzer	1846	2/12	Victoria	Caulfield	Residence, Glasson W	This is a composite organ with parts from several UK Wurlitzer organs. Console is ex-Gaumont, New Cross, London
11/08/1928	Wurlitzer	1868	2/10	New South Wales	Darlinghurst	King's Cross Theatre	Style H
04/09/1937	Wurlitzer	1868	2/10	New South Wales	Hurstville	Savoy Theatre
/1958	Wurlitzer	1868	2/10	New South Wales	Burwood	Congregational Church
/1998	Wurlitzer	1868	2/10	New South Wales	Carrs Park	Residence, McDonald, S
07/1928	Wurlitzer	1879	2/10	New South Wales	Pott's Point	Residence, Crowle "Wyldeful"	Style R15, with main, slave and roll-player consoles
13/02/1934	Wurlitzer	1879	2/13	New South Wales	Auburn	Civic Theatre	One console, additions by Wurlitzer
11/11/1967	Wurlitzer	1879	2/18	New South Wales	Wentworthville	Residence, Clancy J	House and organ now owned by Mr Kevin Clancy
16/09/1928	Wurlitzer	1896	3/15	South Australia	Adelaide	Regent Theatre	Style 260 (no 32ft Diaphone)
06/1968	Wurlitzer	1896	3/19	South Australia	Adelaide	St Peter's College
29/12/1928	Wurlitzer	1902	3/15	Western Australia	Perth	Ambassador's Theatre	Style 260
19/12/1947	Wurlitzer	1902	4/19	Victoria	Melbourne	Regent Theatre	The added parts came from Opus 359 Replaced Op. 2009
/1969	Wurlitzer	1902	4/19	Victoria	Melbourne	In Store, Tranter A
23/02/1929	Wurlitzer	1987	4/21	Victoria	Melbourne	State Theatre	Style 270 2 consoles and grand piano
29/04/1970	Wurlitzer	1987	4/22	Victoria	Moorabbin	Town Hall
09/04/1929	Wurlitzer	2005	4/21	New South Wales	Sydney	State Theatre	Style 270 slave consople never installed . Grand piano soon removed. Organ still in theatre
15/03/1929	Wurlitzer	2009	4/21	Victoria	Melbourne	Regent Theatre	Style 270. Destroyed by fire April, 1945
31/12/1998	Wurlitzer	2027	2/5	South Australia	Adelaide	Residence, Beames, P	Style 150. Awaiting installation
08/11/1929	Wurlitzer	2040	3/15	Queensland	Brisbane	Regent Theatre	Style 260. Grand piano
/1963	Wurlitzer	2040	3/15	New South Wales	Lawson	Residence, King Dr K
15/07/1978	Wurlitzer	2223	3/8	New South Wales	Kogarah	Victory/Mecca Theatre	Style UNN3
1990s	Wurlitzer	2223	3/8		Sydney	In store, Tranter, A
				Christie Organs
06/02/1930	Christie	2777	3/10	New South Wales	Parramatta	Roxy Theatre
/1958	Christie	2777	3/10	New South Wales	Sydney	Residence, Baldwin S
/1970	Christie	2777	3/10	New South Wales	Sydney	In Store	Mostly destroyed by fire whilst in storage. There are currently plans to rebuild the remains of Op. 2777 with other Christie parts, including the console from Op. 2698. The rare Fanfare Trumpet of Op. 2777 survived the fire
/1932	Christie	2698	3/10	New South Wales	Burwood	Palatial Theatre	Organ originally installed in Clou Konzert Haus, Berlin, Germany, 1928, Then earmarked 1929 for Civic, Auckland, N.Z., but not sent there
/1958	Christie	2698	3/10	New South Wales	Wahroonga	Seventh Day Adventist Church	Console replaced with drawstop console 1999
/1957	Christie	2714	2/10	New South Wales	Bexley	Residence, Hughes P
/1964	Christie	2714	2/3	New South Wales	Concord	Seventh Day Adventist Church	Console ex-Wurlitzer Opus 359 Pipes ex-Empire, Dunedin, NZ. Op. 2714
/1974	Christie	2714	2/3		Canberra	In Store (TOSA) ACT
/1983	Composite	2714	2/7	Queensland	Pomona	Majestic Theatre
03/02/1930	Christie	2774	2/9	New South Wales	Sydney	Lyceum Theatre	Rebuilt with new console 1964 after fire. Still there - theatre used as church on Sundays
24/11/1975	Christie	2911	Originally 3/8, now 3/10(soon to be 3/11)	Queensland	Brisbane	Kelvin Grove High School	Built 1934 for Granada Theatre, Maidstone, UK. Original console destroyed in flood at Maidstone 1968. Organ has console (enlarged from Op. 2714) but this is now being replaced (1999) and 3 extra ranks added. Will be 3/11. Owned by TOSA (Qld)
06/1928	Christie	2720	2/8	Western Australia	North Perth	Regent Theatre
07/1929	Christie	2720	2/8	Victoria	Melbourne	De Luxe Theatre
11/04/1930	Christie	2720	2/8	New South Wales	Sydney	Plaza Theatre
27/07/1938	Christie	2720	2/8	New South Wales	Enfield	Savoy Theatre
/1960	Christie	2720	2/8	New South Wales	Sydney	Residence, Baldwin, F
/1984	Christie	2720	2/8	South Australia	Happy Valley	Residence, Smith G	Electronic 3rd manual added
1994	Christie	2720	3/16	Victoria	Castlemaine	Town Hall	Installation and enlargements pending - may start in 2000
14/10/1929	Christie	2743	2/8	New South Wales	Gordon	King's Theatre
02/10/1960	Christie	2743	2/8	New South Wales	Ryde	St. Colomb's Church	This organ originally shipped for Lyceum, Sydney
/1929	Christie	2687	2/7	New South Wales	Kogarah	Victory/Mecca Theatre
/1970	Christie	2687	2/7	New South Wales	Sydney	In Store, Tranter A
/1931	Christie	314	2/7	Victoria	Clifton Hill	Hill, Norman & Beard Factory	Organ built by HN&B Australia Pty Ltd
14/05/1932	Christie	314	2/7	New South Wales	Eastwood	Duke of York/Odeon Theatre
29/08/1959	Christie	314	2/10	New South Wales	Epping	Baptist Church	Rebuilt and enlarged 1983
/1930	Christie	2766	2/5	New South Wales	Concord	Ritz Theatre	Organ originally shipped for King's, Gordon
02/11/1935	Christie	2766	2/8	New South Wales	Strathfield	Melba Theatre
/1957	Christie	2766	2/8	New South Wales	Five Dock	Christian Broadcasting Assn.
/1965	Unspecific Composite	2766	3/26	New South Wales	Wahroonga	Residence, Esgate A
/1980	Unspecific(Composite	2766	3/10	Victoria	Melbourne	Dallas Brooks Hall
18/02/1937	Christie	N61	2/5	New South Wales	Parramatta	Astra Theatre	Organ built by HN&B Australia Pty Ltd
/1950	Christie	N61	2/5	New South Wales	Bondi	Catholic Church
/1968	Christie	N61	2/5	New South Wales	Mt Druitt	Church of the Holy Family	Little of the original instrument remains
				Other Unit Organs
23/02/1975	Blackett & Howden		2/9	Victoria	Reservoir	Cinema North
03/04/1999	Blackett & Howden		2/9	Victoria	Coburg	Town Hall	Organ (2/8) built 1928 for Prince's Theatre, North Shields, UK. Console destroyed in UK 1969/70. Organ has Christie console ex-Op. 2743. Owned by TOSA (Vic)
8/09/1974	Compton		3/10	Western Australia	Myaree	Purvisonic Sound
00/03/1987	Compton		3/10	Western Australia	Perth	John Leckie Music Centre	Organ built 1933 for Plaza Theatre, Worthing, UK. Now owned by TOSA (WA)
/1968	Compton		3c/8	Victoria	Brighton	In Store, Dendy Theatre
17/08/1986	Compton		3/9		Canberra	Albert Hall ACT	Organ built 1933 for Gaumont Theatre, Cheltenham, UK Owned by TOSA (ACT)
12/06/1982	Compton	379	3/9	Victoria	Ballarat	Memorial Hall/Her Majesty's Th.	Organ built 1937 for Ritz Theatre, Warrington, UK Owned by TOSA
19/04/1981	Compton	412	3/6	Queensland	Oxley	Residence, Linnett B	Organ built 1937 for Regal Theatre, Chester, UK
00/08/1969	Compton		3/14	Victoria	Melbourne	In Store (TOSA)
11/07/1992	Compton		3/17	Victoria	Malvern	Town Hall	Organ comprises parts of many Compton organs from the UK. Owned by TOSA
08/04/1938	Martin		3/7	New South Wales	Drummoyne	Astra Theatre	"The Thing at Drummoyne"
04/01/1939	Lord		3/7	New South Wales	Wentworthville	Regent Theatre	"Concert organ" replaced after 18 months by Wurlitzer Op. 388
29/07/1956	Composite		2/9	New South Wales	Mosman	Baptist Church	Contains console and several pipe ranks from the Standaart organ ex-Capitol, Barking, London, UK (built 1929)
00/00/1958	Unspecific Composite		2/8	New South Wales	Harris Park	Residence, Taylor C	Console ex-Wurlitzer Opus 748
/1975	Unspecific Composite		2/8	New South Wales	Padstow	Star Theatre	Installation was not completed
/1978	Unspecific Composite		2/8	New South Wales	Sydney	In Store, MacDonald S
/1991	Unspecific Composite		2/8	Victoria	Swan Hill	Residence, Williams, N	"To be installed shortly" (1998)
/1977	Walton		2/5	South Australia	Aldgate	Residence, Walton D
00/11/1979	Walton		2/5	South Australia	Mt Barker	Residence, Walton D
				Part 2 - Photoplayers
12/06/1912?	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/5	South Australia	Adelaide	Pavilion/Rex Theatre
25/03/1918	Wurlitzer/ Dodd		2/8	South Australia	Adelaide	Grand Theatre
/1912	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/5	South Australia	Adelaide	Chinese Garden Theatre
/1925	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/4	South Australia	Port Pirie	Adastra Theatre
1920s	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/4	New South Wales	Manly	Embassy Theatre
1922	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/5	New South Wales	Sydney	Crystal Palace Theatre
/1934	Wurlitzer		2/5	New South Wales	Bega	St. John's Church
/1970	Wurlitzer		2/5		Canberra	Residence, Lloyd T ACT
/1923	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/4	Tasmania	Hobart	Palace Theatre
/1925	Wurlitzer		2/4	Tasmania	Hobart	Barnett's Skating Rink	from Palace Th
1920s	Wurlitzer photoplayer		2/4	Western Australia	Fremantle	Princess Theatre
/1959	Wurlitzer		2/6	Western Australia	Inglewood	In Store, Hufner P	from Princess Th Fremantle
1920s	Cremona photoplayer		1/5	Victoria	Brighton	Prince George Theatre
1920s	Cremona photoplayer		1/2	Western Australia	Fremantle	Majestic Theatre
05/09/1913?	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	South Australia	Adelaide	Wondergraph Theatre	Style 35
23/08/1917	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	South Australia	Glenelg	Glenelg Theatre	From Wondergraph. To Strand when Style 50 Fotoplayer installed at Glenelg Theatre
/1926	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	South Australia	Glenelg	Strand Theatre	From Glenelg Th
15/04/1915?	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	Victoria	Melbourne	De Luxe Theatre	Style 50
/1922	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	Victoria	Canterbury	Hoyt's Theatre	From above
/1923	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	Victoria	Richmond	Hoyt's Theatre	From above
/1923	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	Victoria	Melbourne	Hoyt's Theatres (unknown)	From above
/1926	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	South Australia	Glenelg	Glenelg Theatre	From above
10/1959	Unsepcific Composite		2/21	South Australia	Macclesfield	Residence, Broadbent A	Rebuilt from above Fotoplayer
/1975	Unspecific Composite		2/21	New South Wales	Petersham	Mastertouch Piano Roll Co.	From above
/1918	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	South Australia	Goolwa	Mechanics' Institute	Style 20
/1977	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	New South Wales	Petersham	Mastertouch Piano Roll Co.	From above
/1985	American Photoplayer Company		1/2	New South Wales	Sydney	Powerhouse Museum	From above. Located in King's Cinema exhibit - played daily
1910s	American Photoplayer Company		1/7	New South Wales	Sydney	Lyric/Wintergarden Theatre	Style 50
/1920	Seeburg photoplayer		2/6	New South Wales	Kogarah	Victory/Mecca Theatre
03/11/1920	Seeburg photoplayer		1/2	South Australia	Goodwood	Star Theatre
1920s	Seeburg photoplayer		1/2	Victoria	Sth Melbourne	Sleight's Funeral Home
00/02/1922	Gulbransen Duo Concerto photoplayer		1/2?	New South Wales	Ballina	Moss' Pictures
08/01/1924	Gulbransen Duo Concerto photoplayer		1/2?	South Australia	Victor Harbour	Wonderview Theatre
00/00/1921	Unknown photoplayer		2/??	Queensland	Brisbane	Majestic/Odeon Theatre
29/04/1916	Unknown photoplayer		1/??	New South Wales	Sydney	Haymarket Theatre
00/00/1918	Unknown photoplayer		1/??	New South Wales	Hurstville	Civic Theatre
/1915	Unknown photoplayer		1/??	South Australia	Adelaide	West's Theatre
09/10/1919	Unknown (photoplayer?)		2/??	New South Wales	Sydney	Shell Theatre
1910s	Unknown (photoplayer?)		?/?	New South Wales	Sydney	Princess Theatre
1910s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	New South Wales	Sydney	Majestic Theatre
1910s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	New South Wales	Sydney	Opera House Theatre
1910s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	New South Wales	Mosman	Lyceum Theatre
1910s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	New South Wales	Sydney	Hoyt's De Luxe
1920s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	New South Wales	Sydney	Empress Theatre
1920s	Unknown photoplayer		?/?	South Australia	Adelaide	Skating Rink, Pirie Street
20/07/1921	Unknown photoplayer		1/??	South Australia	Kadina	Ideal Theatre
				Part 3 - Other Non-unit Organs
/1908	Bishop		2/17	Western Australia	Perth	Queen's Hall/Vic's Pictures
/1928	Bishop		2/19	Western Australia	Claremont	Wesley Church	From above
/1899	Casson	168	1/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Tivoli Theatre
/1917	Casson	168	1/4	Victoria	Thornbury	St. James' Church	From above
/1974	Casson	168	1/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Organ Centre	From above
/1975	Casson	168	1/4	Victoria	Melbourne	Residence, Maidment J	From above
/1982	Casson	168	1/4	Victoria	Yea	St Luke's Church	From above
/1915	Unknown		?/?	Victoria	Fitzroy	Lyric Theatre
/1934	Unspecific (Composite)		3/??	New South Wales	Petersham	Residence, Lord A
/1937	Unspecific (Composite)		4/ ??	New South Wales	Killara	Residence, Lord A
/1920	Anderson		3/26	Queensland	Brisbane	Strand Theatre	Second-hand church organ from Victoria. Stored in theatre but not installed
/1921	Anderson		3/26	Queensland	Brisbane	St. Stephen's R.C. Cathedral	From above
/1991	Anderson		3/26	Queensland	Brisbane	Exhibition Building	From above
1910s	Unknown		??/8	New South Wales	Haberfield	Picture Theatre
/1925	Unknown		?/?	New South Wales	Newcastle	Strand Theatre
24/06/1912	Estey	591	2/11	New South Wales	Sydney	Crystal Palace Theatre	Destroyed by fire 1921
/1888	Fincham		3/42	Victoria	Melbourne	Exhibition Hall
/1889	Fincham		3/42	Victoria	Melbourne	Masonic Hall, Collins' St.	From above
/1905	Fincham		3/42	New South Wales	Sydney	Lyceum Hall	From above. Organ taken by Hill Norman & Beard in part-exchange for Christie organ Op 2743
/1927	Unknown		1/6	Victoria	Sale	Palais Theatre
/1930	Unknown		1/6	Victoria	Melbourne	In Store, Pr. Regent Theatre
1950s??	Unknown		1/6	Victoria	Melbourne	Residence, Marshall G	From above

Note: The late Ray Thornley was assembling a unit instrument of some 26 ranks at his home in Gippsland, Victoria.  This instrument was not completed before his death in 2001, and the components are currently in store in Melbourne.  Other incomplete instruments and/or parts of organs (including isolated consoles) exist around Australia.  Since none has yet constituted a complete organ, and their status is transient, they do not appear in the above list.  Once they become playable instruments in their own right they will be added to the list.

Return to Contents Page