About

Wirripang Pty Ltd (formerly Publications by Wirripang) was established in 1987 as a publisher of books. In 1990 it commenced publishing the music of the composer, Horace Keats (1895-1945). The success of this venture and the acclamation it has brought from a wide variety of musicians and audiences encouraged Wirripang to extend its efforts by embracing contemporary Australian composers with a view to making their work more accessible to a wider public. The founders of Wirripang, Anne and Brennan Keats, were both named in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours list and conferred an OAM for service to music as publishers of works by contemporary Australian composers. [If interested, read below for the origin of the name "Wirripang"]

Director:  Anne Keats OAM

Wirripang Pty Ltd.
ABN 24 141 876 244

Wirripang Media Pty Ltd.
ABN 34 612 768 617

18/106 Corrimal Street
Wollongong NSW 2500 Australia

Phone: 02 4228 9388

Mobile: 0419 482 360 (Anne)
Email: keats@wirripang.com.au


    Origin of the name

    During the course of the 1930’s the radio station 2BL (Broadcasters Limited and now known as 702) ran a program for children titled the Australian Bora Circle. Young regular listeners, upon application, were able to become members and were allocated a totem and a name. My older brother Russell (born 1921) joined the Circle, at a date unknown, and was inducted into the Brolga totem and given the name Wirripang, The Eagle of the Brolga.

    Our parents, Janet and Horace Keats, were both musicians; our mother was a singer (and also a fine pianist) giving both regular broadcasts and recitals and our father a conductor, pianist and later of course, a composer. Both of them were involved with the ABC from the formation of 2FC and later 2BL and continued when these two stations amalgamated to form the ABC.

    Russell joined the RAN during 1939 and with a regular income had the foresight to take out an insurance policy. Sadly the proceeds of this policy were realised far sooner than anyone expected, because Russell was killed in action in his ship HMAS Canberra in the infamous battle of Savo Sound during August 1942.

    With the proceeds of this insurance and Russell’s deferred pay (sailors did not have superannuation benefits then) our parents purchased their first home in Mosman, lower north shore of Sydney, and they named it "Wirripang".

    Together with my wife and business partner, Anne, we retained the name in houses subsequently owned by us. So when seeking a name for our business we knew it had to be Wirripang.

    The logo we use is circular with the eagle on the top looking down on a whale beneath. The eagle is Wirripang and the whale is symbolic of our business commencing its life in Mosman in 1987. The whale represents the early whaling days in Mosman and is part of the current crest for Mosman.

    Brennan Keats