Preserving the Don Banks Collection
This appeal closed on 30 June 2016. Any donations received after this date will be directed towards The National Library of Australia Fund, which supports conservation and digitisation of the Library’s collection.
Portrait of Don Banks in front of poster for UNSW Opera performance, photographer unknown, c1970-1980, nla.obj-136826587
Join with us to preserve and digitise the work of internationally acclaimed composer Don Banks (1923–1980).
In a career spanning jazz performances with Graeme Bell and Cleo Laine, film scores for Hammer horror films, compositions for classical ensembles and pioneering electronic music in Australia, Don Banks was, at one time, Australia’s most successful musical export. As an enduring testament to his contribution to, and influence upon, Australian music the Don Banks Estate and the Library continue to receive frequent requests for access to his collection of work, manuscripts and papers from students writing doctoral thesis to those researching for books on the Australian music scene. Each year the Don Banks Music Award (of $60,000) is bestowed upon a musician who has made outstanding contribution to Australian music. The award is considered the nation's most valuable individual music prize and is granted only once in an artist's lifetime.