Convict Culture Week

Join us for a week long Celebration of Convict Culture: Music, Dance, Song, and Theatre.

Port Macquarie was a convict settlement from 1821 to 1832. During our special week we’ll explore the forgotten culture of these unwilling immigrants, bringing a new perspective to convict life in colonial Australia.

Join our musicians, singers, and dancers as they lead interactive workshops showcasing the traditional music and dance forms that brought joy to the lives of convicts. Learn the steps to lively jigs, hornpipes and social dances, and discover the instruments and tunes that filled the air with melody. These are not the laments of miserable convict lives, instead they embody the vibrant culture that was cherished and celebrated.

Come to a concert and visit the exhibition in the Library.