General News
6 June, 2025
Hunting for Hoadley’s history
Newcastle based radio host Jack Hodgins is on a nation-wide hunt for memories of Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds, particularly in Maryborough.
The annual music event suggested the chances of rock stardom to any eager musician, even in Australia’s most rural communities.
Mr Hodgins is hoping this hasn’t been forgotten.
Run by Hoadley’s Chocolates, from 1966 until 1972, Australia’s Battle of the Sounds was originally established as a talent quest for new unsigned bands.
Many participants and winners went on to have major success, notably Sherbet and Daryl Braithwaite.
Heats began in towns throughout the country, with state and national heats to follow.
As the contest grew over the years, it spread to communities Australia-wide.
This included Maryborough.
Currently writing a book on the Battle of the Sounds contest, Mr Hodgins has conducted thorough and extensive research, and has uncovered information on heats throughout regional Victoria and New South Wales.
Despite its popularity and significant role in Australian music history, it came as a shock to find gaps in the contest’s past.
“What inspired me to do this project was reaching out to groups on Newcastle’s involvement. I looked at how there are gaps in the history. If someone could take the time to do as much as they could to find out more about
this, I think we could really fill in a lot more gaps,” he said.
A major focus of Mr Hodgins’ research is the experiences of those who played and the songs performed. But this information has not been documented.
Maryborough is one of various country towns with performances reported in old Go Set magazines, which have been uncovered during Hodgins’ research.
“I’ve been able to find more information popping up for Maryborough, than some other towns. Go Set has been quite a treasure trove of information,” he said.
“Maryborough is one of the few places that had entries for every year. In some towns, there’s just no information for some years, some heats, even some places.”
Mr Hodgins has even uncovered Maryborough’s winning bands, and the dates of each.
“As an example, I found one on June 26, 1966 at the Maryborough Town Hall, and that was the venue for most of the heats,” he said.
According to Mr Hodgins’ research, the Maryborough heats were facilitated by radio station 3CV, with winners including The Emeralds, The Elois and Peter and The Silhouettes in 1966, Tol Puddle Martyers in 1967, Shades of Blue in 1968, South Side Blues Band in 1969 and 1970, Solem Froid in 1971 and Bagshot Segal in 1972.
All winners went to the Victorian Country Final, except for the 1969 winner, who went to the South Victorian championship.
“Go Set would have a coupon you would send to your local radio station, all you would need to do is put that coupon in and you would get to play in that competition,” Mr Hodgins said.
“Some 500 to 1000 teenagers across Australia would pack these venues to see these local bands. In terms of Maryborough, I’m sure this would have been a massive thing for young people.
“It is one of the most important aspects of our musical history. As far as I can tell, it’s a national band competition that was structured so vastly. I don’t think this has occurred like this anywhere else in the world, where there are heats everywhere, multiple in every state.”
Mr Hodgins is encouraging anyone who recalls attending or playing in these shows to email him.
“I think a lot of people, when they have information, they think ‘he’s already got it or maybe he’s not interested,’ but if anyone has any information at all, even if they weren’t in a band but they were in the audience, anything is helpful,” he said.
“I haven’t connected with anyone from Maryborough yet, so I’m hoping someone reaches out. Whatever someone has, regardless of detail, for people to come forward is a very important thing.
“Someone has got to do something about this or else the history will be lost.”
Anyone with information or stories about the battles is encouraged to contact Mr Hodgins at jackhodgins67@gmail.com.
He is aiming to release his book in June 2026.