Nora Coalstad

(1905-1974)

Nora Coalstad, a distinguished pianist who was well known in the classical music scene around Australia in the late 1920s through to the 1960s, was the eldest daughter of Captain and Mrs Coalstad of 22 Hamilton Street, East Fremantle (1918- 1937). 

Born in Bunbury (reference), she initially studied music at the local convent under the Sisters of Mercy and secured her first Trinity exhibition when only 11 years old (reference). When the family moved to East Fremantle, her musical studies continued at St Joseph’s convent and then with Mr Hadyn Hardwick until she went to Melbourne to study under the then well known musician, Benno Scherek (reference).

By the time she was 20 years old, she had won four gold medals and four exhibitions against competitors from around Australia (reference). Percy Grainger, the well known Australian composer, was very impressed with her and urged her to continue her career in the U.S.A. as he himself had done. He supplied her with letters of introduction to several notables in the music world there, including Mr Ernest Hutcheson - a celebrated music teacher at the time (reference).

Nora had intentions of following Grainger’s advice in the future but she continued her studies in Melbourne for another year and  then went to England to do postgraduate studies (reference). On her way there, she holidayed with her parents and gave several performances including one at a musical afternoon which the Mayoress of Fremantle arranged in her honour in the Fremantle Town Hall (reference). 

Nora studied in London until 1932 and while back in Perth for a holiday in 1930, she became a foundation member of the Kylie Music Club which had been formed to support young local musicians. (reference) Whilst in London, she met Dr Ralph Crisp, a well known Western Australian pediatrician, who was also doing postgraduate work. They returned together to Perth in 1932 (reference) and early in 1933 they were engaged (reference) and married (reference). Then, at the end of that eventful year, their son, Severin, was born.

Nora continued to be involved in the local music scene both with her own performances and encouraging other musicians through her active participation in the Kylie Music Club. Meanwhile, her husband Ralph became president of the British Medical Association (BMA) and was actively involved in establishing a community medical system throughout the state (reference). The popular couple were often in the social pages and Nora was featured, with her son Severin, in the social page series ‘Young Mothers in Perth’ (reference) and ‘Favourite Corners in Perth Homes’ (reference).

As well as being a wife and mother, Nora actively participated in the local music scene for several decades through both live and recorded performances (reference). She performed with many famous people such as Georg Szell (reference) and Noel Coward (reference). Her son, Severin, excelled academically setting a record in 1952 for the most subjects passed in the Leaving Certificate with 11 subjects and eight distinctions (reference). 

The couple travelled extensively in later years and in 1954, Nora shared her experiences of post-war Europe with members of the Victoria League (reference).

In 1966, after a three year illness, her husband died while they were holidaying in London (reference [1] below). Nora herself died 12 years later in 1974 aged 69. (reference [2] below).

[1] Likeman, Colonel Robert (2014)  “Doctors on the Western Front” 

[2] Stewart, Noel (1987) “As I remember Them”
Researched by Gaye Englund for www.streetsofeastfreo in 2019