The Manly Warringah Pipe Band was inaugurated as the band of the Manly District Scottish Society on the 9th February 1949 under the leadership of Pipe Major Fred Munro. The Band was then called Manly District Scottish Society Pipe Band and made its first public appearance on 21st September 1949 at the Mosman Town Hall. In the first year the pipes and drums played at twelve engagements. Relations between the Society and the Band became strained and in early 1952 the two sections parted company. The Band, having paid off its indebtedness to the Society, held a charter meeting on 31st March 1952 and became The Manly Warringah Pipe Band.

MWPB adopted the badge insignia of the Gordons and has received permission from the Marquis of Huntly to wear it as part of the uniform. Up until the 1960’s the band wore a dress uniform, the lighter Dress Gordon tartan kilt, dinner jacket and hose. However, after that period, while Frank Morrison, a former Argyll & Sutherland Highlander Pipe Major, was our Pipe Major the uniform required renewing. Frank made the decision to change the bands uniform to full military style. Therefore, today we wear the Military Gordon tartan kilt as worn by the Gordon Highlanders. The reason the band chose to adopt the Gordon colourers is obscure but is believed that our first Drum Major Alan Mair was a member of the 2/30 Battalion Scottish Militia during the war, and that Victorian Battalion was affiliated with the Gordon Highlanders in Scotland.

Up until 2002 the band never had competition as one of its priorities, though it did & still does compete in local Scottish Gatherings. Under the leadership of Pipe Major Nick Roelvink the band decided to commit itself to a few competitions throughout the year, including solo, mini band & full band. This has demonstrated an increased improvement in the bands performance & personal skills.

In the 1960’s, as more young people keen to learn the pipes and drums were attracted to the band, it gained a reputation as a training band, which has been maintained to this day. A few years ago there were no less than three Pipe Majors controlling successful competition bands in Sydney who were former pipers with the Manly Warringah Pipe Band.

The Band plays at approximately forty engagements a year, which include playing for the Manly Council to entertain the public on the Corso, fetes, weddings, sports events, corporate jobs, surf carnivals, and displays, as well as attending ANZAC Memorial Services and marches. Some of the more interesting engagements the Band has played have been:

On the Queen Mothers Visit to Manly in 1958 the Pipe Band played for her with the Royal Yacht Gothic's Marine Band; In the early eighties we played at the launch of "Endeavour II" at Berry Bay; Farewelled the "Eye of the Wind" as she departed on a voyage to Antarctica. In 1987 at the Entertainment Centre along with St Mary's Pipe Band we played "You're the Voice" with Johnny Farnham at the final Countdown Awards. In the early nineties the pipes and drums combined with the “Band on the Run” to play "Mull of Kintyre" at a Beatles Nostalgia Concert at the Enmore Theatre. In the days when the Royal Easter Show was held at the show ground the Band was part of a display, which included the Gurkha Rifles Pipe Band and had the daunting experience of the Gurkhas charging through the band at double time!

In more recent times the Band has broadened it horizons. Over the last fifteen or so years we have been regular participants at the Southern Highlands Brigadoon Gathering at Bundanoon. We played at the Wine and Rice Festivals at Leeton, played at gatherings at Kiama, Nelson Bay, Aberdeen, and Ettalong Pipe Bands Display competition. In 1999 to celebrate our fiftieth anniversary the band and some of our supporters attended our first International Competition - Palmerston North, New Zealand. It was a much valued learning experience. Our second visit in 2003 demonstrated the significant improvement in the band's performance under the leadership of PM Nick Roelvink, DM Barry Nicholas, and Pipe Tutor Scott Nicolson from St Marys Pipes & Drums.

With the turn of the century the members decided it was time to update the Band Rules and original Constitution, so as to bring the band in line with current Australian Laws and make a fairer means of leadership. This task was carried out under the chairmanship of our Patron and former MLA Dr Peter McDonald. At the next AGM, Kenneth Davidson became our first elected Pipe Major, replacing Roger Springer who resigned after the members overwhelmingly passed the changes at a Special General Meeting.

The Manly Warringah Pipe Band now enjoys an evergrowing playing strength of Pipers, Side Drummers, Tenor Drummers, Bass Drummers, Dancers, Flag Bearers, & learners. It is a strong & robust band whose continued growth in membership & continued success at Pipe Band Competitions demonstrates it will be performing well into the future.