Tasmanian Heritage Festival

The 2009 Festival has now concluded.

Water: Our Island’s life force: 1 - 31 May 2009

The statewide 2009 Tasmanian Heritage Festival program is now available.

The theme for the Tasmanian Heritage Festival 2009 is “Water: Our Island’s Life Force” in all its many dimensions in Tasmania. May will see almost 100 events on offer including tours of boats, historic gardens, natural heritage areas, wild rivers, and historic heritage places; films about lighthouse keepers, regattas, the fishing industry and shipwrecks; talks on longitude; and exhibitions and theatrical events with a watery theme - all in celebration of the way wild and tamed rivers and the sea have shaped our Tasmanian way of life.

The early provision of the 2009 Festival program will provide you with the opportunity of being able to book events well in advance. Some events are limited to numbers so it would be wise to book early so as not to miss out.

Should you require a printed program for friends and family they are available through the National Trust property closest to you in Tasmania, or through Tasmanian Visitor and Information Centres from the 31 March 2009.

• The Program of Events is set out here
• A downloadable version of the program is here
• A copy of this year's poster is available to download here
• ABC Radio's coverage of the Festival on its website is here

Please Note: From time to time venues and times may change, the latest information available to us is always incorporated in our Program of Events web page above, don't forget to re-check as necessary.

Alternatively please contact the Trust for further information. We hope you enjoy the Festival!  

 

A message from the Minister

As the Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts I’m pleased to invite you to come along to this year’s Tasmanian Heritage Festival and join in some of its many events. The 2009 Heritage Festival is the premier event in the Tasmanian Heritage Year. This year there are almost 100 events on offer across the State, so there is sure to be something for everyone to attend and enjoy.

This year’s theme is ‘Water: our island’s life force’. It will be a celebration of the way our magnificent rivers, lakes and coastal waters have shaped our Tasmanian lifestyle.

Some of the events include: ‘Transported by water’ activities and the story of women convicts transported to the Cascade Female Factory; the launching of the book ‘The Water-getters’: how Hobart quenched its thirst’; and a trout weekend at Liawenee.

Also on offer will be a host of other water themed events, including films about lighthouse keepers, regattas, the fishing industry and shipwrecks; talks on longitude; and exhibitions and theatrical events.

The festival provides an outstanding opportunity for Tasmanians to learn more about our historic heritage and participate in some great community events. It also gives us all the chance to celebrate in our historic environment; an environment vital to our sense of community, place and our Island State’s identity.

I congratulate the National Trust and the Heritage Festival Steering Committee for both organising and bringing together such a splendid Festival. I’d like to encourage all Tasmanians to get out and enjoy our island’s heritage by visiting one of the many Festival venues or activities.

Michelle O’Byrne
Minister, Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts

 

Heritage Festival Background

The National Trust in Tasmania from 1985 to 1995 held a program of events known as the National Trust Heritage Week. In 1995 the format changed to become what is now known as the Tasmanian Heritage Festival with events held statewide

2008 saw considerable interest in events presented which was reflected in high attendance levels. The Festival is now positioned to be the major annual cultural heritage festival in the state

2009 will once again see the support of the Department of the Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Minister for Tourism, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

The Festival each year adopts a focus which brings forward most interesting thematic events. For 2009 the theme is focused on water, with the title "Water: Our Island’s life force". The topic includes rough, clean water, silent running rivers, pure mountain streams

Water has shaped Tasmania in more ways than one. For convicts, water was a double lock on the door of their imprisonment. For settlers, the rivers and rich rain falls were a source for agriculture and industry, transportation and recreation. It has become our major energy source and a central image in the fight for conservation. It defines our island identity and creates a unique sense of place

The Festival time frame has moved from the month of April to May for 2009 despite the increased possibility of more inclement weather. The reason being that there are a considerable number of events already scheduled for April 2009.

Archived versions of the 2008 Information & Report are available on the Annual page here