 After Pabst returned to Europe in the autumn of 1894 , Grainger 's new piano tutor , Adelaide Burkitt , arranged for his appearances at a series of concerts in October 1894 , at Melbourne 's Royal Exhibition Building . The size of this enormous venue horrified the young pianist ; nevertheless , his performance delighted the Melbourne critics who dubbed him " the flaxen @-@ haired phenomenon who plays like a master " . This public acclaim helped Rose to decide that her son should continue his studies at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt , Germany , an institution recommended by William Laver , head of piano studies at Melbourne 's Conservatorium of music . Financial assistance was secured through a fund @-@ raising benefit concert in Melbourne and a final recital in Adelaide , after which mother and son left Australia for Europe on 29 May 1895 . Although he never returned permanently to Australia , Grainger maintained considerable patriotic feelings for his native land , and was proud of his Australian heritage . 
