People Australia

Frederick Ellard was a member of an important family of musicians. He probably arrived in Australia in 1832 with his father Francis Ellard, who established a prominent publishing, music, instrument, and ticket selling business in Sydney. Frederick arrived in Melbourne in 1840, and again in 1847 and 1848 after returning from further musical studies in London. He lived in Sydney in 1842, performing in concerts and publishing his first composition in Australia, The Sydney Corporation Quadrilles. His numerous compositions of the 1840s were published by his father's business.

Frederick became known in Sydney as a cellist, and taught pianoforte and singing between 1851 and 1867. His music engaged with topical events such as the Crimean War of 1853-56, commemorating this in a set of part-songs entitled Crimea: Alma, Inkermann, Balaklava. His Australian Bird Waltz is believed to be the first published music based on an Australian bird call. He also published several series of dances, including The Australian Ladies, a set of sixteen piano solos named for leading ladies of colonial Sydney, including Lady Franklin, Lady Forbes, Lady Gipps, and Lady O'Connell (daughter of William Bligh).