The official date for the foundation of the Musical Association of Tasmania was 1 June 1938, although meetings were held prior to this date to engender support for its formation. The Association was founded by Dr Arundel Orchard so that professional members might be brought into close contact with each other, for interested members of the community to meet with professional musicians and to generally develop musical culture in Tasmania. It was a state wide association and affiliated with the National Council of Musical Associations. It comprised members and associate members on a subscription basis. ;;;;The Association was placed in recess from 1942 because of the war and was revived in 1945. It ceased to exist by the late 1950s.