The Australian Heritage Festival returns with theme ‘Shared Stories’

March 29, 2023

The Australian Heritage Festival - Australia’s largest annual community-driven heritage festival - is to returns from 10th April to 14th May 2023, with the theme ‘Shared Stories’ and is offering an exciting program of more than 150 free and ticketed events across NSW.

Connecting the nation for more than 40 years, the Australian Heritage Festival highlights the country’s unique heritage through unmatched access to special events, exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops, open days, ceremonies, demonstrations and more.

The Australian Heritage Festival is coordinated by the National Trust and is supported by the NSW Government through Heritage NSW.

Debbie Mills, Chief Executive National Trust (NSW) enthused “we are delighted to invite the community to join the Australian Heritage Festival celebrations.

“This year’s theme ‘Shared Stories’ is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to join in, share their own stories and reflect on those stories that will shape the future for generations to come. We thank the many community groups, organisations and individuals who have taken the time to organise these unique Festival experiences so that people of all ages and backgrounds can engage in heritage right across NSW.

Spanning from the cities to the regions, the 2023 Australian Heritage Festival features in-person and online offerings. A third of the events featured in the 2023 calendar are free, with the remainder ticketed or charged via gold coin donation.

2023 Australian Heritage Festival highlights include:

April: Lindesay After Dark, Darling Point - Enjoy a glass of wine and canapés in the garden overlooking Sydney Harbour, before commencing a very special tour of historic Lindesay – a spectacular 1830s harbourside mansion - as night falls.
April: Murder, Mayhem and Scandal: Forgotten Stories of Woollahra – Uncover the dark secrets, mysteries and scandals of Woollahra, now known for its opulence, class and architectural beauty, that were buried away long ago with the hope of being forgotten.
April: Twilight at May Gibbs’ Nutcote, Kurraba Point - Visit the beautiful home of May Gibbs, Australia’s foremost children’s author and illustrator. Watch the sun set over the water from May’s Garden, take a guided tour of her house and picnic on the lawn.
April: Open Day: The Mint, Sydney – View The Mint’s collections up close, hear from experts on a range of fascinating topics, take a behind-the-scenes tour and relax with refreshments.
April: Riversdale Reminiscence, Goulburn – A unique opportunity to see how historic letters between loved ones and oral stories of descendants inform the present at Riversdale. Morning tea included.
April: Twilight Poetry Lantern Light Trail, Tilba – Enjoy poetry by lantern light as you traverse a trail exploring the historical ballade and their origins, recited by artists and poets positioned along this unique free walk.
April: Voices from the Secret River, Spencer – Hear about the hidden places and forgotten voices of Dyarubbin on this full day cruise and walking tour led by historians, geologists and storytellers, including Grace Karskens, Gil Jones and the Indigenous Astronomy Group. Includes an exquisite waterfront lunch.
April & May: The River: Burramatta to Cockatoo, Old Government House, Parramatta – This new exhibition tells the stories of centuries of use of the Parramatta River, including by the Burramattagal, and explores the impacts of colonisation and industrialisation on the River, its use for recreation and the current clean-up campaign to allow swimming once more. Special school holiday tours available.
April & May: Sutherland Shire Citizens' Heritage Festival – Enjoy an array of colourful events run by Shire organisations including music concerts, exhibitions, museum open days and more. A vintage bus will transport the community between venues.
April & May: Dundullimal Homestead, Dubbo – Featuring a special exhibition of vintage bridal wear fashion from 1860 – 1960 with morning tea and guest speakers, an afternoon of opera and the NSW Schools Reconciliation Challenge exhibition, powerful in its appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ methods of Caring for Country.
April & May: Autumn Colours, Bathurst – An exciting celebration of Bathurst’s rich history during its most spectacular season. Includes an unmissable series of guided tours and events.
April & May: Retford Park, Bowral – Retford Park is buzzing with activities throughout the festival period including an enchanting garden performance presented by the Eaton Gorge Theatre Company, colourful art displays, house tours, garden tours and a delightful self-led art and nature trail for families.
April & May: Everglades House & Gardens, Leura – Hear stories of local history, botany, geology and culture at sketching workshops overlooking World Heritage listed wilderness and view a display of original 1930s and 40s Art Deco travel posters, postcards, brochures and more, discovered inside a suitcase in Armidale.
May: Heritage Day at Parramatta North Precinct, Parramatta - Discover the fascinating history of the Parramatta North Precinct and explore the beautifully restored heritage buildings. Enjoy free guided walking tours, interactive displays, live entertainment and much more.
May: Butcher Boats and Colonial Rations, Spencer – Explore the story of food on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. Includes native tea tasting and a scenic guided walk to a number of significant sites including UNESCO World Heritage Listed Finch’s Line.

Registrations for event organisers to be part of the official 2023 Australian Heritage Festival are open until Monday 3rd April 2023.

Full program and registration via www.nationaltrust.org.au/ahf/

Image top: The Rocks Walking Tour; image above: Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest

23rd April 2017 - Australian Heritage Festival presents over 1000 events nationwide

27th March 2023 - New members sought to oversee new Western Australian Aboriginal cultural heritage laws

13th February 2023 - Heritage balconies at His Majesty’s Theatre open to public for first time in 70 years

6th February 2023 - Queensland National Trust appoints new Head of Heritage and Environmental Services

8th December 2022 - Football Victoria launches new website celebrating the heritage of the ‘beautiful game’

7th December 2022 - 30 years of K’gari World Heritage listing acknowledged

10th November 2022 - Workshops across Western Australia to discuss guidelines for Aboriginal cultural heritage co-design

9th November 2022 - Sydney’s Inner West pubs set to be heritage listed

8th November 2022 - World’s first Global Culture and Heritage Tourism Summit

12th October 2022 - Perth beach precinct included in Western Australia’s Heritage Register

5th September 2022 - Victoria’s Tourist And Heritage Rail Sector receives further funding

24th August 2022 - Lead nomination authors visit Flinders Ranges to progress World Heritage Bid

24th June 2022 - Grafton’s heritage venues to be showcased at Tourism Symposium

16th May 2022 - Walsh Bay Arts Precinct revitalisation secures National Trust Heritage Award

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