South Australian police band Australia's first in 1884, started by William Peterswald; becomes a full-time unit from 1957

The South Australian Police Band  in 1895 with commissioner W. J. Peterswald and Inspector Denis Sullivan. Band members are – Back row: T. Leedle, T.R. Nettle, J.W. Bailey, W. McDonald, H. Geeves, G.M. Johns, W. Renfrey, J.W D. Simpson, C.C. Klapper. Front: W.J. Goldsworthy, J.R. Sandercock, T.H. Davey (bandmaster), R.S. Rowett, W.J. Graves, J. Marsh.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia

South Australia’s police force, the first in Australia from 1838, also was the first to have a band in 1884 after commissioner W. J. Peterswald, from a German  background, encouraged the Adelaide Metropolitan Foot Police to form a volunteer brass group.

The band was soon setting its high standards, winning brass band contests, under director T.H. Davey, at the exhibition building in 1903.

In recess during World War II, the band became full time in 1957 under commissioner Brigadier John McKinna. In 1974, it changed from brass to a military band with woodwind instruments. The band was acclaimed on the international stage at military tattoos in Edinburgh, Germany and Switzerland. 

The police band was just another of a charge of innovations by the South Australian police. Along with such firsts as its novel use of camels to patrol outback regions from 1880, the forces also had the first police union in Australia (1911) and was the first to introduce women police into their ranks (1915).

Other innovations include the exclusive use of grey horses for the mounted police from 1954 and live-in police cadetships at Fort Largs Police Academy from 1961.