Opera Hunter was formed in 1986 by a team including Mercia Buck as president, Colleen Potts, Tom Naisby, (the Newcastle Herald music critic), Susan Hart, Karen Hawkins (now Walmsley), Philip Sketchley, Barry Walmsley and Rob Langley. It was then called Hunter Opera, a name which many still use.

After fundraising and planning, workshops were held at Newcastle High School in 1987 and directed by Alan and Janice Light. In June 1988, the company presented Act 1 of each of Julius Caesar by Handel, and La Traviata by Verdi under the direction of Mary Louise Ambler. The venue was the Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club, and it was sponsored by Lake Macquarie Music Society.