The Wiggles started in 1991 in Sydney, Australia, when Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, and Phillip Wilcher formed the group to create a children's music album based on early childhood education concepts. The band was founded by Anthony Field, who was inspired to make music for children following the death of his infant niece, and he enlisted his fellow students and musicians to help produce the album.
Formation and Original Lineup
The original members met while studying early childhood education at Macquarie University, combining their musical backgrounds with educational principles. Field, Cook, and Page were students, while Fatt was a former bandmate from The Cockroaches, and Wilcher contributed as a classical music composer. Their debut performance was at a daycare in Randwick, New South Wales, and they initially performed during school holidays while holding teaching jobs.
Early Career and Growth
The group’s self-titled debut album was released in 1991 and sold 100,000 copies, marking the beginning of their rise in popularity. They began touring extensively across Australia, performing at preschools, shopping centers, and regional events, eventually quitting their teaching jobs to focus on music full-time. By the mid-1990s, they had become one of Australia’s most successful children’s entertainment acts, setting records in music and video sales.
