Heritage Festival 2022 – Get Curious
Friday 25 March 2022
This year’s Heritage Festival, held under the auspices of the National Trust, takes place Friday 1 April – Tuesday 31 May.
Curiosity is the theme and this year’s events are designed to spark your curiosity and show a side of the Inner West never seen before.
The full program launches early April and there are events online and in person. Go to innerwest.nsw.gov.au/HeritageFestival
Workshop
Discovering archaeology
A family friendly event with some of Sydney’s leading archaeologists who discuss their work and the recent excavation of the Fenwicks Building in Balmain and the old Marrickville Hospital site. You can even touch and handle some of the artifacts uncovered from recent archaeological digs.
Marrickville Library and Pavilion
Sunday 15 May, 10am and 12pm
Talks
The history of Hellenes in Australia
Professor Anastasios Tamis discusses his latest book ‘The History of Hellenes in Australia 1974-2016’ and shares his findings on the immigration and settlement of 270,000 Greeks and Cypriots in Australia.
Marrickville Town Hall
Thursday 14 April, 6.30pm
The Ηistory of Hellenes in Australia Heritage Festival 2022 Tickets
Alexandria: A city in history
The ancient city of Alexandria in Egypt was conceived and founded by the greatest figure of the ancient world - Alexander the Great. This engaging history talk by Alexandria born Lorenzo G. Montesini will bring this ancient city to the Inner West.
Marrickville Library and Pavilion
Friday 13 May, 6pm
South Flows the Pearl
There’s a chance to deep dive into Chinese Australian history with the book launch of ‘South Flows the Pearl’. This book is a collection of personal accounts and moving stories that explore the success and struggles of Chinese people in Australia since the 1850s.
Ashfield Town Hall
Wednesday 18 May, 6.30pm
Callan Park: Jewel of the West.
A book launch that was 20 years in the making. It’s a journey of discovery that uncovers the unknown facts and political manoeuvrings that surround the park and its practices from 1870 - 1960.
Balmain Town Hall meeting room
Wednesday 25 May, 6.30pm
Walking tours
Aboriginal Walking Tour: Steel Park Midjuburi
Local elder, Terry Lennis back by popular demand, gives an Aboriginal account of the history of the Steel Park waterways and uncovers historical use and importance to local tribes.
Saturday 4 May, 10am
Saturday 21 May, 10am
Monday 30 May, 10am
Curious about Newtown?
Walking the street of Newtown will never be the same after these two guided tours by local historian Mark Matheson; Curious about Newtown? The Northside tour will talk about the history of Newtown as a major shopping emporium and Curious about Newtown? The Southside will take you away from the main street and into the homes and lives of the inhabitants from years gone by.
Curious about Newtown: The Northside
Saturday 7 May, 10am
Saturday 14 May, 10am
Curious about Newtown: The Southside
Saturday 7 May, 1pm
Saturday 14 May, 1pm
Ramsay Street shopfront heritage trail
Take a self-guided walking tour along Ramsay Street in Haberfield for a shopfront exhibition to learn about the original Haberfield family and its ties to Bristol, UK.
5 - 30 May at various shop windows along Ramsay Street Haberfield
See innerwest.nsw.gov.au/HeritageFestival for list of participating shop fronts.
St Peters history tour from kilns to mills
Take a walking tour of St Peters past and present with local history experts.
St Peters suburb was named after Sydney’s earliest church - St Peters Anglican 1838. This church is the start of a tour that takes us though the suburb to learn of the old brick kilns, cinemas, Goodsall Street, May Street and the Town and Country Hotel.
Sunday 14 May at 2pm
Are you curious about the history and the future of Callan Park?
This walking tour of the park gives the chance to hear stories of the institution’s complex history with direct anecdotes from people who lived and worked there.
Sunday 29 May, 11am and 2pm.
Podcasts
Inner West Icons
Enjoy local history from the comfort of your home. Three podcasts will explore local icons; ‘Reverse Garbage’ with co-founder Phil Nanlohy Murals; ‘Street Art’ gives the opportunity to meet local artists and uncover the stories behind the art; and ‘The Witches Houses- Inner West Icons’ with local authors Vanessa Berry and Belinda Murrell explains how a set of gothic houses in Sydney’s Inner West came to inspire a bestselling novel.
Podcasts at innerwest.nsw.gov.au/HeritageFestival
Exhibition
No Time to Spare. Our threatened heritage: A photographic exhibition
This National Trust touring exhibition presents a series of black and white photographs of Sydney’s treasured buildings and invites us to take time to understand and appreciate our heritage.
4 – 30 April
Leichhardt Library during library opening hours.
No bookings required