Before it became the feared symbol of the Nazis, the swastika was the inspiration for a Victorian orchestra

THE Swastika Orchestra may seem a shocking choice of name today, but before the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s the symbol represented something else.

Letterhead for the Swastika Orchestra in Echuca in the 1930s.

IT’S synonymous now with the Nazis’ atrocities, but the swastika was once the inspiration for a popular Victorian orchestra.

While its name may seem shocking now, the Swastika Orchestra of Echuca in the 1930s was named after an ancient religious symbol representing good luck.

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The musicians were presumably unaware that more than a decade earlier on the other side of the world, Adolf Hitler had adopted the symbol for his fledgling Nazi Party.

The Swastika Orchestra touted itself as “the leading dance orchestra of the north” and played modern jazz and old time music for weddings, socials, balls and receptions.

Swastikas were a common sight in the early 1900s when they were used in architecture, advertising and product design, a practice that naturally faded after the Nazis rose to power in Germany. Even now, swastikas are still commonly seen on the Indian subcontinent.

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Dave from Bendigo was inspired to look into the orchestra’s history after picking up this letterhead at a local market.

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“The Swastika Orchestra was very popular and played regularly throughout northern Victoria and southern NSW,” Dave says.

“Then it all turned sour for their name at the start of WWII and it didn’t prove to be so lucky for them.”

Dave would love to know if any photos or programs for the orchestra still exist. If you can help, let us know.

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