Geelong will celebrate its history and heritage this month as part of a Victoria-wide festival.
The Heritage Skills & Traditions Autumn Fair will take place at The Heights Heritage House and Garden in Newtown on Saturday, April 26, showcasing the trades, skills and crafts that helped make Geelong what it is today.
Local experts will hold live demonstrations of traditional techniques, including members of the Barwon Valley Woodwrights and Hand Tool Preservation Society, the Geelong Beekeepers Club and the Geelong Lace Makers.
Visitors will be able to learn about the processes of painting conservation at the Hidden Hands workshop, check out The Heights Volunteer Gardening Team pop-up plant sale and enjoy a Devonshire tea throughout the day.
The house and garden will be on display, with visitors able to admire the heirloom vegetables and rare plants and guided tours of the 1850s prefabricated house running throughout the day.
National Trust’s Geelong properties coordinator Matt Barmby said the event was “a big celebration of everything to do with heritage and the skills and traditions that go with it”.
“The Heritage Festival is probably Australia’s largest community-driven event,” Mr Barmby said.
“It’s really important to celebrate our history and all things to do with heritage in this country. We tend to lose sight of things that we have had, whether we’ve torn it down or forgotten different trades and skills.
“We want to provide as much as we possibly can on the day… and create a fun and enjoyable space.”
The Heights Heritage Skills & Traditions Autumn Fair runs from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, April 26. Entry is by gold coin donation. Visit nationaltrust.org.au/ahf/vic for more information.
Matt Hewson
