It was formed in 1978 and is based in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, Australia. The Orchestra's members include advanced secondary students, university students, instrumental music teachers and musicians of any age who wish to play in an orchestra which follows a challenging program.
Membership is currently sixty permanent players.
The Orchestra has worked with many well known Australian Conductors and Soloists. This orchestra has not only accompanied many concertos but also choral works as well. Music by Australian Composers has become an important element in the orchestra's repertoire to perform for both local and overseas audiences. The prestigious Performing Arts Centre of the Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School is the venue for the orchestra's subscription concerts. Other performance venues have included the Melbourne Concert Hall, Melbourne Town Hall, and the Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria.