In 1896 he left England for Perth, Western Australia, to take up a position as a choir director.
In 1916, Orchard began teaching at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music, taking over as Director in 1923.
Returning to Sydney, he became the Visiting Examiner for the Trinity College of Music, and constantly travelled around Australia for the next 20 years.
Orchard was returning from a trip to England, when he died on board the Dominion Monarch.
He also wrote a violin concerto; a dramatic poem for soprano, baritone, men's chorus and orchestra; chamber music; and various songs.