Born in Melbourne, Alfred Hill spent most of his early life in New Zealand. Between 1887 -1891 he studied in Leipzig and was conducted by Brahms, Bruch and Tchaikovsky. In 1897 he moved to Sydney, still maintaining a close connection with New Zealand. He made a significant contribution to the study of the indiginous musics of the Maoris and Australian Aborigines. On his death his manuscripts were donated by his widow to the ABC's federal library.