Although the sequence is somewhat disconnected, the history of the Wollongong Steelworks Brass Band can be traced back to the formation of a small ironworkers band in 1893 in Lithgow, N.S.W.
With the transfer of the works from Lithgow to Port Kembla, the old Lithgow combination disbanded as most of the players migrated to Port Kembla and Wollongong.

The Wollongong Steelworks Brass Band (now the City of Wollongong Brass Band Inc.) was formed in 1934 by the late John McDonald Tougher, along with his father Bob and a few players, who worked at the Port Kembla Steelworks (hence the name).

Rehearsals were held in a corrugated tin shed at the rear of No. 3 Ellen Street, Wollongong, which still stands today behind the band hall, built on the same block of land. Players put in money to buy kerosene for the lamps so they could read the music until the electricity was eventually connected.
Some instruments were owned by the players, others were scrounged from wherever they could be found. One was offered to the band and when Jack went to pick it up, the donor told him it was out the back in the chook yard. So he went out and there it was, covered with the things chooks do. After cleaning and disinfecting, it became a useful asset to the band.