National Trust Heritage Festival 2015

Registrations for the National Trust Heritage Festival 2015 are now open

The National Trust Heritage Festival will take place from the 11 April - 26 May 2015. Celebrating 35 years as the longest running community festival, it' because of organisations like yours that the festival keeps growing, attracting tourists from all over Australia and overseas.

'Conflict and Compassion' is the theme for the 2015 National Trust Heritage Festival; it has shaped who we are and helped a new multicultural nation evolve.

In 2015, Australia commemorates the centenary of the ANZACs. For many Australians, the battle of Gallipoli is inextricably linked with our national identity. But how else does conflict and compassion shape our nation?

From our Indigenous history to the centenary of World War I, the 2015 National Trust Heritage Festival will explore the human side of war, rebellion, sacrifice and endurance, and the extraordinary stories of courage and compassion that come from the horror of conflict and strife.

It is free to register a heritage related event for the festival.

40,000 copies of the printed guide will be distributed throughout NSW, to libraries, councils, tourist information centres, event participants and to all of our members. The Heritage Festival also provides free publicity to encourage people to attend your events and to give you greater exposure. To register your event click here

150th Anniversary of the Ben Hall Raid, e-newsletter Issue 1

This is the first of a series of e-newsletters to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Ben Hall Raid at Bathurst in 1863. The event saw some far-reaching effects that changed people’s lives and the Government of the day. 

The anniversary will take the form of a weekend festival with numerous activities planned over three days. There will be a full programme of re- enactments, talks, tours, historic bushranging and colonial displays and memorabilia, book launches as well as a special dinner with guest speaker and bushranger historian Mr. Peter Smith with his talk entitled “Heroes to Villains.” 

A sub-committee of the Bathurst District Historical Society has been meeting since May last year to organise this special weekend. This event marks the raid on Bathurst by the Ben Hall Gang and the effect it had not only on Bathurst but the Colony of New South Wales and the police system. The raid took place on the evening of Saturday 3rd October, 1863, sending many residents into a panic as the news was passed around. 

It was during the time in history where bushrangers roamed the country from the 1860s till the 1880s.

Plans for the weekend are well in hand and coming together nicely. There are just some 25 weeks before visitors start arriving in Bathurst so be sure to book or arrange your weekend accommodation if you plan to stay for the weekend. 

The Bathurst Regional Council has granted permission to close Russell Street in front of the historic Bathurst Court House to hold the activities on the Saturday afternoon and has agreed to finance the cost of the closure. The Bathurst District Historical Society and the committee are very appreciative of their assistance. 

Details, locations and information on the dinner, historic displays, talks, tours and other activities over the three days will appear in various issues of this e-newsletter and media as details are confirmed. The re-enactment of the event is currently being organised. 

Please enjoy yourself whilst in Bathurst and be sure to visit some of the many other attractions that historic Bathurst and the district have to offer. 

We hope that some families will use the weekend to incorporate a family reunion, especially on the Sunday. Some may wish to put a plaque on Bathurst’s Pioneer Wall which can be organised through the Bathurst District Historical Society on info@bathursthistory.org.au to arrange for the information and application form. 

I hope you enjoy these monthly e-newsletters and that they will be interesting and beneficial. It will be great to meet people in person and I hope you all have a terrific weekend here in paradise. 

If you wish to receive this e-newsletter direct just email amcrae@lisp.com.au 

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society 

To view the full Newsletter click here.

Cementa festival, 1-4 Feb 2013

"The thing about the Cementa festival was that it was in and was about Kandos.
Putting Kandos up there with the rest of the world."

(Fiona MacDonald)

For lots of photos go to:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Happy viewing.

Gulgong Heritage - Henry Lawson 2013 Festival

Ref: Gulgong Pioneers Museum

Mulga Bill Bicycle Festival Yeoval

Click on image to view