The Queensland Highlanders was formed in 1996 by Fraser Martin and a small group of dedicated musicians keen to build an exciting pipe band from the ground up. Despite the relatively short history of the band, it enjoyed a high level of success in both competitive and entertainment endeavours.
The band travelled to Scotland in 2001 to compete, resulting in the band winning the coveted World Pipe Band Championships in Grade 2 – the first civilian pipe band from Australia to win the title. This achievement followed the band’s first venture overseas to the World Championships in 2000, where it placed 5th in Grade 2.
Part of the band’s lead up to the 2001 World Championships was performing at the Interceltique Festival de Lorient alongside some of the biggest names in folk music and top Scottish pipe bands, playing to audiences in excess of 15,000.
World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland, 2001