Wongawilli was originally formed in 1987 to help promote, preserve and perform Australia's rich tradition of music, song and dance. The year 1988 proved to be a busy one with the band gaining quick popularity and performing at over 50 functions. The band combined on many occasions with the Wongawilli Colonial Dancers to present a unique presentation of Australian bush music and dancing.

The band has become well known throughout Australia with performances at all major folk festivals - Maleny, Port Fairy, Victor Harbour, the National Folk Festival (10 times).

The year 1998 saw a major change for the band. Two of its long standing members John Harpley and Neil McCann decided to move on. John moved to Yass and Neil, the band's primary songwriter, enjoyed more time with his family.

The new youthful additions were Jason and Chloe Roweth from Bathurst and fiddler Jane Brownlee from Sydney. They joined father and son, Graeme and Reg Murray, and husband and wife, David and Tania De Santi (Jane's older sister). Jason

1998 also saw the release of a compilation recording of the band's two previous productions - After The Tradition and Australian Selection. The recording was released in North America by Musica Pangaea, who were specialising in world and Australian Folk Music. The new recording was titled Australian Tradition and is 78 minutes long and received airplay in the US, Canada, Europe and the Mid-East.

Other projects during the 1998 were year playing with the BHP Youth Orchestra and the SBS Radio Television Choir as part of a special presentation on migration songs, dances and music in Australia, titled the Southern Cross is Calling.

The band continues to help with the organising of the Illawarra Folk Festival at Jamberoo, with David De Santi as director since 19.

The band along with Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club have also established the Australian Folk Music and Dance Gathering to provide a more focused event based on Australian folk music.

The aim of the group was and still is to perform and promote and hence preserve Australia's rich heritage of music, singing and dancing. The band prides itself in the truly Australian dances it performs such as the Varsoviana, the Schottische, the Quadrilles and Galops in addition to the normal bush dances expected by bush bands.

The new band has just released a new recording 'Live at the Local' and members have continued publishing books on Australian folk material through the Pioneer Performer Series.