The Band of The First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is the only Regular Army Band in The Australian Army's Land Command. This bands history began with the raising of the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Australian Imperial Forces for service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, Japan in 1945.
The Band served with the Battalion in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam and the Bandsmen, when not performing in their role as Stretcher Bearers, performed for Military and Civic parades and concerts.
In 1968 the Government raised the Australian Army Band Corps (AABC) and changed the makeup of all bands from Brass to Concert incorporating woodwind instruments for the first time. The 1 RAR Band also adopted this composition but remained an Infantry Band staffed by members of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RAINF).
In 1984 the resident Army Band in North Queensland was disbanded as a result of financial cutbacks and 1 RAR Band was bolstered by the addition of 16 AABC personnel to take over the role of that band. At that time 1 RAR band had 14 RAINF members. Now the Band is fully staffed by the AABC but remains an integral part of the Battalion and a Public Relations icon in the north.