April 16, 2012
2012 CANBERRA AND REGION HERITAGE FESTIVAL GUIDE:
Guided Bus Tours of the National Arboretum Canberra
Join a tour of the Arboretum at 11am or 2pm to see the breathtaking views and learn about the diverse species of trees from around the world. Entry by gold coin donation. Pick up point: Yarramundi Reach, off Lady Denman Drive. Bookings essential: 0406 376 711.
Bush Schools of the Hall District
Come and view this fantastic exhibition about the numerous one-room bush schools of the Hall district from 10am to 4pm. Read about the teachers and families the schools served and the amazing stories of ingenuity and innovation that helped bring schooling to rural Australia. While you are there also visit the Hall School Museum. Gold coin donation for entry. Hall School, Victoria Street, Hall. Enquiries: 6259 5221.
Wattle Park Art & Craft Event
Celebrate the Harvest Festival at heritage-listed Wattle Park Uniting Church from 10am to 5pm. Fresh local produce, light refreshments and a sausage sizzle will be available. Explore the art and craft stalls featuring watercolourist Nell Anderson, potter Judy McDonald and bark-art artist Les Savage. Attend the Thanksgiving service at 10.30am. Gold coin donation for entry. Barton Highway via Hall. Enquiries: 6230 2516.
London Bridge and Googong Guided Walk
London Bridge is a naturally eroded limestone arch on Burra Creek NSW. Join archaeologists Helen Cooke and Peter Dowling at a sausage sizzle from 11am before setting off to learn more about this natural wonder and finishing by 3.30pm. Adults $35, NT & U3A members $25. Googong Dam, off old Cooma Road. Bookings essential: 6230 0533.
History Walk – Braidwood
Join a local guide for an afternoon walk around the only heritage-listed town in NSW from 2pm until 4pm. Marvel at the architecture, learn about the town's history and hear delightful stories of Braidwood's past. Free event. Braidwood Museum, Wallace Street. Enquiries: 4842 2415.
Old, Old Acton Part 2
Join Allen Mawer for part two of his historic photo journey through Acton, taking in the early vistas of the upper Acton Peninsula between 10am and 11am. Free event. Old Canberra House, Lennox Crossing, ANU. Bookings essential: email info@actonwalkways.com / phone 0437 301 390. For more information visit www.actonwalkways.com
Capturing Acton on Camera: Innovative architecture
Want to get that perfect shot? Join us on a guided walk past some of Acton's finest old and new innovative buildings, from 2pm to 4pm with tips on finding and taking the perfect photograph, led by digital photography expert Bradley Cummings. All levels and cameras welcome. Adults $10. John Curtin School of Medical Research, corner of Ward and Garran Roads, ANU. Bookings essential: email info@actonwalkways.com or phone 0437 301 390. For more information visit www.actonwalkways.com
Marking the ACT Border - A Ramble
100 years ago Percy Sheaffe and others marked the ACT border. Hear about their exploits as you are led by the Canberra Bushwalking Club to see a border marker in Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve between 2.30pm and 5pm. Limit of 20 walkers. Free event. Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve,Horse Park Drive, Gungahlin. Bookings essential: 0417 436 877.
A Look Back at Goulburn's Water Supply
Built in the 1880s, Goulburn's innovative historic waterworks was built to supply the early city of Goulburn with fresh piped drinking water. The steam engines, the only ones surviving in NSW, are meticulously maintained by volunteers. Open from 10am to 4pm. Gold coin donation. Marsden Weir, off Fitzroy Street. Enquiries: 4823 4448.
Open Day at the Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra
Ever wondered about your family history? Join a short tour of the Library from 10am until 1pm and discover the resources available to help find your family story. Individual sessions with an experienced researcher are available. This is a great place to start growing your family tree. Free event. HAGSOC Library, 43 Templeton Street, Cook. Bookings essential for individual sessions: 0411 616 213.
Explore the Sanctuary
Come and meet a volunteer interpreter between 11am and 4pm to discover the natural wonders of the Sanctuary at Tidbinbilla. Entry fees apply. Tidbinbilla Road. Enquiries: 6205 1233.
Pelican Feed
Join a wildlife officer as they feed the pelicans at Tidbinbilla at 1.30pm. Learn about this and other remarkable inhabitants of the wetlands. Entry fees apply. Pond 4 in the Sanctuary, Tidbinbilla Road. Enquiries: 6205 1233.
St John's Schoolhouse Museum
Step back in time to Canberra's first schoolhouse from 2pm to 4pm. Built in 1845 by Robert Campbell of Duntroon for the education of workers' children, it consists of a schoolroom with five attached rooms which served as the residence for the schoolmaster and his family. It closed as a school in 1907. Gold coin donation for entry. Corner of Constitution Avenue and Anzac Park, Reid. Enquiries: 6295 8732.
Exhibition 'Interiors' by Rudy Kistler
South Hill is a fine art gallery located in one of Goulburn's original grand homesteads. Rudy Kistler's exhibition 'Interiors' will be featured throughout the festival complemented by a permanent collection from Martin Sharp. Open 10am to 4pm. Free entry. 2 Garroorigang Road, Goulburn. Enquiries: 0411 131 515.
Torchlight Tours of St John's Graveyard
Don't forget your torch when you join us for a night time tour through one of Canberra's original graveyards from 7pm to 9pm. Hear stories about the families that settled on the windswept Limestone Plains all those years ago. Learn about those who built our nation's capital and amazing stories of innovation by notable Australians. Adults$10, family $20. 43 Constitution Avenue, Reid. Bookings essential: 0429 411 942.
Parkwood Chapel Open Day
Take up this rare opportunity between 10am and 5pm to view the heritage-listed Parkwood Chapel which was built of granite in 1880 by prominent local pioneer Thomas Southwell. Gold coin donation for entry. 'Parkwood', Parkwood Road, via Macgregor. Enquiries: 6254 6071.
Walking Tour: Acton Community
Ever wondered how Canberra town planners and developers fostered our community? Join Curator Dale Middleby and Public Art Consultant Pamille Berg between 10.30am and 12 Noon for a walk through the Acton precinct, ending at NewActon development with its re-use of heritage buildings, new architecture, and integrations of public art, and learn about the National Capital from its earliest days to the present. Free event. Meet at Canberra Museum and Gallery, corner of London Cct and Civic Square. Bookings essential: 6207 3968.