Australia’s largest annual heritage event to inspire curiosity

Australia’s largest annual heritage event to inspire curiosity

Held across NSW from 1st April to 31st May, the Australian Heritage Festival 2022 has the theme of ‘Curiosity’ and features an impressive program of free and ticketed events and activities including exhibitions, walking tours, films, expert talks, workshops, food fairs, tours of historical sites, ceremonies, demonstrations, special dinners, lunches and much more.

For more than 40 years, the National Trust has connected the nation through the Australian Heritage Festival. Established in 1980, the Festival offers families, nature, history and culture-enthusiasts an ideal opportunity to become immersed in the unique heritage of NSW through special access to some our most extraordinary heritage hotspots.

Furthermore, the Festival also provides patronage, support and deserved-recognition to many community-based groups and organisations featured in the Festival program that have been through an incredibly tough few years.

Debbie Mills, Chief Executive of the National Trust (NSW) enthused “we are thrilled to present the Australian Heritage Festival for 2022. After an incredibly tough few years, this is a fantastic opportunity for the community to get out and explore heritage locally. Our theme is ‘curiosity’ and I’d encourage everyone to be inquisitive about heritage, and to actively discover our diverse and vibrant past. With over 150 events and activities throughout NSW, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.’’

The 2022 Australian Heritage Festival program is now live for public viewing online. Event organisers who have not yet registered are still encouraged to list events for inclusion over the next month.

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

Each year the festival features a program of free and ticketed events and activities that operate across New South Wales, as well as online offerings.

Highlights include:

• April: Walking on Country – Youth, Parramatta - A rare opportunity for youth to join together with Aboriginal guides to delve into Aboriginal culture, discover how traditional owners cared for Country, and learn how to contribute to a sustainable future.

• April: Oracles of The Bush, Tenterfield – A unique cultural event encompassing live performance of Australian Bush poetry, music and art.

• April: Curious Talks and Tea, Riversdale, Goulburn - A special chance to join the museum guide and head gardener at Riversdale (the former home of NSW Surveyor-General, Edward Twynam) for morning tea, a curious talk and a tour of the homestead and stunning gardens.

• April & May: The People’s Park – Theatre and History Come Together, Centennial Park - A 90-minute promenade visiting landmarks of Centennial Park; a myriad of historical facts, secret spots and vibrancy nestled in amongst wildlife and nature.

• April & May: Apprentice Archaeologists for Kids, Parramatta – A unique chance for children to spend time with a real archaeologist and try their hand at archaeological investigation and recording.

• April & May: Retford Park, Bowral –Retford Park is a special place recently opened to the public, with colourful art exhibitions, house tours, garden tours, gardening and fungi workshops, and a delightful self-led art and nature trail for families on offer throughout the festival period.

• April & May: Sutherland Shire Citizens' Heritage Festival – 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 – A diverse selection of activities are on offer including special talks, an afternoon of opera and the Schools Reconciliation Challenge exhibition, powerful in its appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ methods of caring for Country.

• April & May: Making Good: Convict Artisans in Exile, Old Government House, Parramatta – An exciting new exhibition exploring the lives of convict artisans who used their ingenuity, skill and perseverance to transform their place of exile into a thriving modern settlement. Special tours and hands-on workshops available.

• April & May: Heritage on the Harbour, Pyrmont - Explore Sydney aboard a restored heritage vessel. Hear maritime stories and little-known facts of Sydney’s waterways, and learn of their transformations by convicts, sailors, scientists and more.

• 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.

• May: Unpacking The Past, Parramatta – A rare opportunity to visit key archaeological sites in Parramatta, each delivering amazing insights into our Aboriginal and colonial past. Join an intriguing guided tour and meet archaeologists involved in the current excavations.

• May: Down The Rabbit Hole At Bella Vista Farm, Bella Vista – A family-friendly fun-filled day out involving unmissable displays, tours of the homestead and farmyard, fleecy livestock, children’s heritage games, quizzes, music and more.

Registrations for event organisers who want to be part of the official Australian Heritage Festival are open until 25th March 2022. 

Images from top: The People’s Park – Theatre and History Come Together, Centennial Park Credit: Eaton Gorge Theatre Company; Retford Park, Bowral; delving into Aboriginal culture