Mitchell Conservatorium accepts a Bluthner chamber grand piano | Video, photos, pictures

The six foot six inch (198 centimetre) German-made Bluthner piano dates back to the 1890s and was once played by renowned Australasian musician and composer Alfred Hill.

Mitchell Conservatorium executive officer Graham Sattler said it was an honour to have been entrusted with the care of the piano by Mr Hill’s estate.

“We’re thrilled to get it out and used for what it was meant to be,” he said.

Mr Sattler said Mr Hill was a leading figure in Australian music.

“He was instrumental in the creation of the NSW State Conservatorium and the New Zealand Conservatorium,” he said.

It was when he was working as a teacher at the NSW State Conservatorium that he met and later married one of his students Mirrie Solomon who originally owned the piano.

“He wold have worked using this piano,” Mr Sattler said.

Mr Hill’s great granddaughter Kerrie Davies, who lives in the Bathurst region, was among the family members who entrusted the piano to the conservatorium.

The piano has not been played for 10 years and is in need of a major restoration.