This is possibly the earliest surviving Australian made piano and as such has great historical importance to the development of musical instrument making in Australia and in particular piano construction. Not much is known of John Benham's life prior to his arrival in this country. Whether he worked for one of the London fortepiano makers is unknown but he described himself as a carpenter on the shipping lists travelling by assisted passage. He arrived in Australia from England in 1833 and by the following year was advertising his piano making business. He worked at various inner Sydney addresses until his death in 1845.
The piano uses Australian timbers in its construction such as kauri or hoop pine for the soundboard and Australian red cedar for the casework. The piano is of a cottage type with a reproduction decorative fabric panel at the front. The cabinet features carved timber columns either side of the fabric panel each with lotus capitals suggesting an Egyptian revival style. Two arc shaped pull out candle holders are placed above the keyboard at each end. It has a six octave compass ranging from FF to f'''' and strung as bichord (pairs of strings) throughout. The wooden frame has metal bracing.
This piano was possibly designed by John Benham.
Two instruments of similar description were advertised for sale in the Sydney Gazette in 1835 (reference to be confirmed).
John Benham arrived in Sydney in 1833 and is listed in the Australian Almanac and Sydney Directory as a pianoforte maker in Upper Pitt Street in 1834. The New South Wales Calender and General Post Office Directory of 1835 lists him at Liverpool Street, Sydney. In 1839 the New South Wales and Port Phillip General Post Office Directory lists Benham's address as York Place, York Street, Sydney. The City of Sydney Directory of 1844 gives his address as 118 York Street. In all these directories he is identified as a pianoforte maker.
Based on his age when he died Benham was about 49 when he migrated to Australia. His profession was recorded as a carpenter. Benham is believed to have made several piano's in Australia but it is unconfirmed so far if he worked for a piano manufacturer in England before coming to Australia. He died on 17 October 1845 at his residence in York Place, York Street (The Atlas, Vol.1 No.48 25/10/1845 p.575). The information on his burial record puts his age as being 61 years. This would make his date of birth as about 1784.
Along with one of Sydney's earliest musical instrument retailers, Francis Ellard, John Benham was called on as a piano expert to give information in a court case in Sydney in 1835 regarding a dispute over the value and sale of a piano (Stephen v. Lyons). In the case Benham describes himself as a pianoforte maker and a repairer of pianos. The case was reported in the Sydney Gazette on 9th July 1835.
Michael Lea
Curator, music & musical instruments
May 2009
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