The Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail celebrates history with a vibrant new festival program
Do you know your bodger from a blacksmith? Over 100 artisans from across Australia will captive and inspire young minds (and old!) at the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail from 15-16 April 2023. An exciting, expanded program this year features a two-day fair and for the first time a new visitor trail to iconic heritage venues around the region.
Rare trades, lost arts and heritage crafts will demonstrate their skill over two days at the main event at the historic Bathurst Showground. Meet the artisans, see them at work, and attend workshops including candlewicking, upholstery, crochet, and spoon carving.
This weekend of creativity is the best time to bring your family to Bathurst and is great value as children under 16 attend the main event for free. There will be old fashioned treats, live music, rides on the Cobb & Co, and hands-on activities like whip cracking and wine stomping. Also, for the first time a demonstration of local Aboriginal culture and traditional tool and weapon making will be shown.
New this year, ticket holders can take a free hop on hop off shuttle bus running between iconic venues which are offering 50% off entry. This includes Abercrombie House, Chifley Home, the Bathurst Railway Museum, Bathurst District Historical Society Museum, Old Government Cottage and Miss Traill’s House and garden.
As Australia’s first inland city, Bathurst is the ideal location for this annual celebration which is now in its 26th year. It is a signature event of the Autumn Colours Heritage Festival, held annually throughout the Bathurst region, Wiradjuri Country.
The event will be an educational journey to learn how things were made before the electronic world. With a trend towards ‘hand-made and buying local’, record numbers of people are expected to attend.
Take a front row seat and watch blacksmiths, stonemasons, leather workers, woodworkers, textile makers and glass artists at work. There’s also knife making, violin making, saddlery and dry-stone walling.
“This is a great chance to appreciate the skills that built the Bathurst region live and in person. To see how things were done in times before all the modern comforts we enjoy today.” said Robert Taylor, Mayor of Bathurst Regional Council.
For more information and tickets to go www.bathurstregion.com.au
Event details:
- Tickets: Children under 16 are free. Adults cost $20 when pre-booked online or can be bought upon entering the Bathurst Showground for $25 over the weekend. Tickets are valid for entry to both days of the Trail.
- Date and time: 10am-4pm on Sat 15 and Sun 16 April 2023
- Venue: Bathurst Showground, 28 Kendall Ave, Bathurst. The free shuttle bus departs from here to seven other venues around the region.
Photo credit: David Roma Photography
