Victoria History Week :: 21-28 October 2012

Victoria’s wide and wonderful past looks set to come alive next month thanks to the hundreds of events in store for Victoria History Week.

To be held from the 21 – 28 October 2012, Victorians can:

• take the family on a trip back in time touring historic Melbourne - from the Burke and Wills monument to the Fairies' Tree;
• find out how history, law, medicine and science helped piece together the remains of Ned Kelly;
• celebrate 100 years of the enchanting State Library Dome - a magical place that has inspired writers and artists since it first opened in 1912; 
• come, if you dare, to a spooky and spine tingling Trick or Treat Fair in the haunted halls of Barwon Park Mansion;
• put on your student explorer hats and follow the clues to discover Fed Square’s Top Ten artefacts and celebrate its 10th birthday;
• learn all about the fascinating art of early visual technology at the Magic Lantern Society's Australian Convention; 
• explore one of Melbourne's grand designs, learning about the construction and social history of our Old Treasury building;
• experience the lavish interiors and enjoy afternoon tea and a glass of sparkling wine in one of Melbourne’s most significant nineteenth century mansions;
• hear some of the 3,000+ stories behind the headstones at the Cranbourne Cemetery, exploring the accomplishments and tragedies of the district’s early settlers;
• roll out the picnic rug and enjoy an afternoon of historic motor vehicles, local arts and crafts at Maffra's Annual Picnic;
• walk down the aisle and admire a century of wedding dresses and memorabilia from 1880 to 1980;
• take a rare tour of our Supreme Court building, hearing stories from the archives and discovering judicial robes and wigs;
• visit the unique Bear’s Castle and discover why the building has kept historians mystified for years;
• applaud the people and projects who preserve and share Victoria's history, at the Victorian Community History Awards.
• and much, much more!

“Victoria has such a rich and wonderful history, so we are delighted to once again be able to pull together a whole host of reasons to get out there and explore it,” said Kate Prinsley from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.

“From fascinating walking tours and engaging discussions, to gorgeous exhibitions and ‘history in the making’ events - there is something in store for everyone to enjoy.”

Victoria History Week is supported by the Vera Moore Foundation and is coordinated by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.

Event supporters include the History Council of Victoria, Museums Australia Victoria, History Teachers’ Association of Victoria, Heritage Victoria, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Scienceworks, Public Record Office Victoria, Koorie Heritage Trust Inc and the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies.

For details on all History Week events, visit www.historyweek.org.au

Issue 11 Giveaway: Win 2 VIP tickets to NSW History Week

The entries have gone into the Inside History hat and the winner is... Congratulations to:

• Jenny Cowen, Caulfield North, VIC

Who was Jenny's favourite fashion icon?

• "The Womens Weekly of course! It headlined fashions, showed us how to make them, gave us the confidence to wear and feel “it” in them". 

For more on History Week and to plan your event calendar, visit www.historyweek.com.au

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Join us on 9 September when history meets the catwalk! The final fittings are being made for History Week NSW 2012 and this year it’s all about fashion. The theme is Threads: long before the fashionistas of today decided “the look”, dress was an important element of human expression.

From 8 to 16 September, there will be events across the state celebrating the history of dress. A highlight will be “The Muses” on 9 September at the State Library of NSW. In the stunning vestibule of the Mitchell Library, leading Australian fashion designers will exhibit original pieces, created using historical muses as inspiration.

The muses have been selected by the History Council of NSW (HCNSW), and their stories shine a light on the history of dress and fashion in Australia. How will Bennelong, the first Aboriginal diplomat who insisted on the highest standard of European dress or Annette Kellerman, an Olympic swimmer whose form-fitting attire shocked the world, inspire today’s leading designers? How will old become new?

This special event will fuse the glamour, the champagne and excitement of the catwalk with evocative images of the past. And we have two VIP tickets to the “The Muses” to give away, thanks to our friends at HCNSW!

To go into the draw simply answer the following question in 25 words or less:

• Q. Who is your favourite fashion icon?

Send your name and contact details to Inside History, History Week Giveaway, PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 or email cass[at]insidehistory.com.au by 5pm, 15 August, 2012.

Members of hosiery and gloves depts Messrs Horden Bros., 23’2’46, Image courtesy RAHS Photo collection.

For more on History Week and the program, visit www.historyweek.com.au

Terms and conditions: Entries close 5pm, 15/08/12. One name will be drawn at random and the winner notified by 20/08/12. Travel to the event is not included in the prize and is the responsibility of the winner. Entrants must be aged 18 and over. Prize is not redeemable for cash. Please indicate if you would like to opt out of our mailing list.

NSW History Week - Dine with Tony Bilson Giveaway

Inside History magazine is a proud sponsor of the 2011 NSW History Week. We love history and one of our favourite things is food. Happily, you can combine both during History Week, with this year's EAT History theme!

To help History Week celebrate, we’re offering two tickets to dine with Tony Bilson at his famously brilliant Bilson’s Restaurant on the 9th September, at the History Week event: 'The Art of Living in Australia: A Special Event with Tony Bilson".

All you have to do is name Tony Bilson’s first Sydney restaurant and send your answer in an email to cass@insidehistory.com.au, with the subject: “Tony Bilson Giveaway” and you’ll go into the draw to win this fabulous fine dining prize, courtesy of History Week and the NSW History Council! Entries close 5pm EST Monday, 29th August 2011.

'The Art of Living in Australia: A Special Event with Tony Bilson"
At this event, Tony Bilson and Darren De Bortoli will discuss the development of Sydney’s food and wine scene with Simon Marnie from ABC 702 Sydney, while guests savour a specially created menu inspired by recipes featured in Philip E. Muskett’s book, The Art of Living in Australia.

• Friday 9 September 2011, 7:00pm to 9:30pm.
• Bilson's Restaurant, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney, 27 O'Connell Street, Sydney.
• Free for our lucky winner, your tickets get you a gastronomic dinner and De Bortoli wines.

‘It is curious to see the inhabitants of a semi-tropical country like Australia living in wilful contradiction to their climactic necessities, and eating the same kind of food as did their fathers in the old land, with its dampness, its coldness, its ice and its snow,’ wrote Philip E. Muskett in 1893.

Muskett, a public health reformer, advocated the consumption of seafood, fresh produce and Australian wines. Eighty years later Tony Bilson transformed NSW dining with his first Sydney eatery Tony’s Bon Gout.

NSW History Week runs Saturday, 3rd September to Sunday, 11th September. Go to the NSW History Council site for more information or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Terms & Conditions:
Entries close 5pm EST on 29/08/11. The first correct entry drawn at random will win two tickets to the "event" on Friday, 09/09/11 valued at $440, courtesy of History Week 2011. The winner will be notified on Tuesday, 30/08/11. The prize is not redeemable for cash.