City of Melbourne Pipes & Drums, also known as City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band, is one of Australia’s oldest pipe bands, with traditions dating back to the 1890s. Its history is linked to the South and Port Melbourne Thistle Society Pipe Band, which was formed around 1897–1898. The band has long represented Melbourne’s Scottish musical culture through public performance, ceremonial work and competition.

Over time, the band developed a reputation for musical innovation as well as traditional pipe band performance. It has explored concert-style presentations, choreography and the blending of traditional and non-traditional music, while remaining rooted in Highland piping and drumming.

Today, City of Melbourne remains an active community and contest organisation in Victoria. The band fields contest bands, supports players of mixed ages and backgrounds, and continues to perform at community, corporate and cultural events. Proper old-school roots, modern stagecraft, and enough Melbourne polish to make the drones behave themselves.