Hill was one of Australia’s first modern pioneers. He studied in Germany, at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1887 till 1891. He there played many concerts as a member of the gewandhaus orchestra as a violinist.
He then settled in New Zealand, and began studying Maori and aboriginal music very intensively. He then used the inspirations in his many symphonies, operas and string quartets. From 1915 to 1935 he was
professor in music at the NSW Conservatory. Hill was the first Australian
to use aboriginal and Maori styles in music. He formed a new school for later composers such as Peter Sculthorpe, Malcolm Williamson and George Dreyfus.