Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir Founder Rob Holland Has Passed Away

Rob Holland, a founding member of the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir whose vision helped establish one of Australia’s most enduring LGBTQIA+ cultural institutions, has died.

Holland passed away on September 18 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of music, community connection and queer visibility spanning more than three decades.

His death was confirmed to Star Observer by Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir president Neil Hendry, who paid tribute to Holland’s significant contribution to Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Holland’s journey began in 1990, following his participation in the choral program at the Gay Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Inspired by the experience of singing alongside hundreds of other voices, he returned to Sydney determined to create something similar for Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community.

That ambition led him to write a letter to the Sydney Star Observer, calling on people interested in establishing a gay and lesbian choir to come together.

Published in October 1990 under the heading A Gay Choir, the letter encouraged people to embrace the joy of singing together, regardless of their previous musical experience.

It was a simple invitation that would ultimately help establish one of Sydney’s most beloved LGBTQIA+ community organisations.

The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir held its first performance in 1991 and has continued bringing people together through music ever since.

Rob Holland’s Enduring Legacy

In a 2016 interview with The Star Observer, celebrating the choir’s 25th anniversary, Holland reflected on the importance of creating a space where LGBTQIA+ people could express themselves through music.

“When we hear a song about heterosexual love we have to imagine they’re singing about our love, whereas with the choir we don’t have to do that,” Holland explained.

He also recalled admiring the Sydney Gay Liberation Quire, an earlier group whose politically charged performances championed equality and liberation.

“I was a secret admirer from afar, from long before homosexuality was decriminalised… and I could see how wonderful the choir was for the community,” he told Star Observer.

Despite not being able to read music himself, Holland embraced the challenge of establishing a choir that would become a cornerstone of Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ cultural landscape.

Over the decades, the organisation has welcomed generations of singers, providing opportunities for artistic expression, friendship and community connection.

The choir has performed at community celebrations, LGBTQIA+ events and festivals across Australia and internationally, becoming a powerful symbol of visibility and inclusion for the community.

A Community Remembers Rob Holland

In correspondence with Star Observer, Hendry revealed that Holland remained actively involved in the choir until shortly before his death.

“Rob was an active member and had been attending rehearsals in recent months. He is greatly missed by the choir, his partner Don Baxter and his family,” Hendry wrote.

Today, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir continues to bring together singers from across the community, with Hendry confirming that approximately 100 members have performed on stage at each of its recent concerts.

His legacy also holds particular significance for The Star Observer, whose pages helped bring his original vision to life.

More than three decades after Holland first reached out through the newspaper, the choir continues to provide a space where LGBTQIA+ Australians can celebrate their identities and find belonging through music.

And as Holland himself reflected in his 2016 interview, the choir’s enduring sense of belonging meant members were always welcome to return.

“It’s like Hotel California, you’re always welcome and you can check out but you never leave.”

 

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