1985 - 2004

The Junction House Band emerged from a collaboration in 1987 between a group of adults with mild intellectual disabilities and a musician-in-residence Peter Winkler at Bondi Pavilion. Lindy Morrison became their musical director in 1993.

The band quickly developed its own ‘60s-inspired rock-pop style, then wrote two musicals, released four albums and performed at many events including the Sydney Paralympic Games torch ceremony in 2000.

Band members came from Waverley’s now-closed Junction House community centre for adults with cognitive disabilities.

The musical workshops, which ran between 1985 and 2017were supported by Waverley Council at the Pavilion’s recording studio and rehearsal rooms.

The band’s first body of work, ‘Make a Stand’, was launched at Bondi Pavilion in May 1993. More than 20 Junction House members contributed.

Three musicians have performed from the start: Brook Crowley (vocals-songwriter), Albert Blackley (pianist) and Tony Elkins (bass guitar). Crowley, who has autism, was only 17 when he joined, playing keyboard. He quickly moved into the limelight as front man because of his ‘crowd-pleasing stage antics’. Crowley also writes songs.

Blackley, who is also autistic and an avid ferroequinologist (train enthusiast), plays piano and writes lyrics (often about trains). Elkins, ‘who left and rejoined four times’, is on bass guitar. Relative newcomers include Nina Gotsis and Rebecca West on acoustic guitar, vocals and violin and Ben Hindle on harmonica.

Over the past 25 years, the band has become semi-professional, performing live with mainstream acts and on radio and television. Highlights include the 1995 musical ‘Billboard of Life’, a- rags-to-riches tale about a boy kicked out of home who forms a band that turns street kids into superstars. It premiered at Bondi Pavilion, then on to the Sydney Fringe Festival.

In 2007 the band featured in the SBS ‘Storyline Australia’ documentary ‘The Junction House Blues’, directed by Russell Vine. It brought attention to the band’s creative talent, artistic clashes and everyday struggles with life. As the band’s song ‘Make a Stand’ says: ‘We’re gonna make it happen, we’re not gonna let it go, we’re gonna make it happen, and I think you oughta know.’