Frank Callaway

Sir Frank Callaway (16 May 191922 February 2003) was an influential music educator and administrator. He was born in New Zealand but spent the major part of his life and career in Perth, Western Australia, where he built the UWA School of Music (later named the UWA Conservatorium of Music). He was one of the most highly honoured musicians and music educators in Australian history.

Early life

Frank Adams Callaway was born in Timaru, New Zealand, the youngest of four children, and went to primary school at Lake Coleridge Power Station. After leaving Christchurch West High School at 15 due to the Great Depression, he joined a firm of commercial stationers. Night studies at Christchurch Technical College enabled him to gain a university entrance, and studied during evenings for a Bachelor of Commerce at Otago University at Dunedin. "The Wigmore" is said to be "Australia's finest music library". Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG; 1975 New Year's Honours) Knight Bachelor (1981, New Year's Honours) Officer of the Order of Australia (AO; 1995, Australia Day Honours), "in recognition of service to music education, particularly through the development of the Callaway International Resource Centre for Music Education" UNESCO Medal (1995) Centenary Medal (2001) Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music Percy Grainger International Medal honorary degrees in music (from Melbourne and UWA)

The Callaway Centre at UWA, a research and resource centre, is named for him, as is the main auditorium of the UWA School of Music (now the UWA Conservatorium of Music), The Callaway Auditorium.

Family Callaway married Kathleen and had two daughters and two sons. His hobbies were gardening and cricket.