Wangaratta’s Steinway Piano
A Legacy Worth Preserving
Steinway & Sons are world‑renowned for crafting pianos of incomparable quality, created to the highest artistic and technical standards. In 1963—just four years after Wangaratta was officially declared a city—one such Steinway Piano completed an extraordinary journey from the Steinway factory in Hamburg, Germany, all the way to Wangaratta.
Its arrival was a remarkable achievement for the passionate arts community of the time, and news quickly spread throughout Victoria: Wangaratta now housed one of the world’s most prestigious concert instruments.
The piano was purchased through a joint effort between the Wangaratta Arts Council and the then Wangaratta City Council. Its first home was the Wangaratta Town Hall, which stood until 2008 when it was demolished to make way for the Wangaratta Performing Arts & Convention Centre (WPACC). At last, our Steinway found its place in a purpose‑built concert hall complete with a temperature-controlled storage room.
If this piano could speak, imagine the stories it would tell. Its keys have been played by internationally acclaimed artists and gifted local performers alike. Over the decades, it has brought to life a vast range of music—Classical, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Cabaret and more. Esteemed artists including David Helfgott, The Little River Band, John Cleary, Roger Woodward, Winifred Atwell, Geoffrey Tozer, Paul Grabowsky, Piers Lane and Mike Nock have all shared the stage with our treasured Steinway. The presence of a concert‑standard 9ft Steinway Model D has long been a drawcard, attracting performers of the highest calibre to WPACC.
From 2010, under the leadership of Margaret Brickhill AO, the Wangaratta Arts Council partnered with WPACC to deliver Steinway on Stage—a series of intimate twilight concerts where audiences sat close to the piano on the WPACC stage. This beloved tradition continued until 2024, when the Wangaratta Arts Council disbanded.
With its closure came a period of uncertainty. Many wondered whether these special Steinway concerts would come to an end. But a group of dedicated arts advocates stepped forward, forming Friends of the Steinway, operating under the auspices of the Goulburn and North East Arts Alliance (GANEAA). Their commitment, supported by GANEAA’s guidance, ensured the Steinway tradition would continue.
The 2026 Steinway on Stage series is now proudly delivered in partnership by GANEAA, the Rural City of Wangaratta (RCOW) and WPACC.
However, our beloved Steinway is now 63 years old, and its life as a performance‑standard instrument is nearing completion. This is a pivotal moment for our community. To keep the Steinway legacy alive in Wangaratta, Friends of the Steinway are calling for your support.
You can help in many ways:
- Attend the Steinway concerts
- Join our email list to stay informed
- Support advocacy efforts to secure grants, philanthropic funding and community donations
- Contribute directly toward the long‑term goal of replacing our ageing Steinway grand piano
This is an ambitious undertaking, and we will need the support of many hands and hearts.
If you would like to make a financial contribution or discuss your interest further, please contact a member of the Friends of the Steinway Interest Group.
Donations may be made to:
Friends of the Steinway
BSB: 633000
Account: 160440590
GANEAA is a DGR1 registered charity. Donations over $2 are tax deductable.
Steinway Piano Flyer(PDF, 219KB)