The SA History Festival named "About Time" is on for the whole of May - http://www.historyweek.sa.gov.au/ . The History Group and Town Hall Committee are proposing to make this a great event for Burra by registering lots of events.

 

What’s on in Burra during About Time: SA History Festival May 2011

The following is a list of what will be occurring in Burra during May.  It promises to be a great festival so try and attend one or more of the events that have been planned. 

 

History through art Burra Regional Art Gallery

  • Burra Regional Art Gallery, housed in the beautifully restored original Post and Telegraph Office, will be displaying four original paintings by colonial artist ST Gill depicting life on the Burra monster mine site in the late nineteenth century.

  • Sunday 1 May to Tuesday 31 May, 1 pm - 4 pm

 

Dress up in period costume - it's free!

  • Dress up in period costume and pretend you were born in a previous era, have fun and enjoy the ambience of by-gone times. You will find costumes to fit all sizes. Take your photograph on the beautifully renovated stage of the Burra Town Hall. A great activity for all the family.

  • Monday 2 May to Monday 30 May, 11 am - 3 pm. Closed Saturday 21 May and Sunday 22 May

 

 Historic Burra: photograph competition and exhibition

  • Enter your A4-size photograph of an historic site in Burra or district, with a caption stating why the site is historically significant. Entry forms from the Burra Visitor Centre or Burra Town Hall. Entries, fees and forms to be lodged at the Burra Town Hall by 5 pm, Friday 27 April. The entries will be displayed at the Burra Town Hall during May - judged by popular choice.

  • Monday 2 May to Tuesday 31 May, 11 am to 3 pm. Closed Saturday 21 May and Sunday 22 May

 

Burra heritage passport key

  • Burra's unique Heritage Passport gives visitors access to eight locked heritage sites including the Monster Mine, Redruth Gaol, the Unicorn Brewery Cellars and the Miners' Dugouts. Follow a comprehensive guide book detailing 49 historic sites over an 11 kilometre driving trail. Entry to Burra's three museums is included.  Children are free!

  • Purchase the Heritage Passport from the Burra Visitor Information Centre, 2 Market Square, Burra

 

Redruth Gaol - more than meets the eye!

  • Established in 1856, the Redruth Gaol was the first gaol in South Australia outside Adelaide. Later a girls' reformatory, it was also a location in the film Breaker Morant. Come and read about the history of the place and its people and see the site following its recent restoration. Entry is included in the Burra Heritage Passport key.

  • Purchase Heritage Passport from Burra Visitor Information Centre, 2 Market Square, Burra

 

Celebrating the history of the Mid North Broadcaster

  • Come and see our historical display of local newspapers, including the Burra Record which was in operation from 1878 to 1978. The display will be set up in the window at the Mid North Broadcaster branch in Commercial Street, Burra. The early Burra records shed much light on Burra, a thriving mining town during the late 1800s.

 

Diprotodon display: dinosaur fossils found in the Goyder Region!

  • View an impressive display of fossils of the Diprotodon; the largest known marsupial that ever lived. The discovery of fossils in the Burra area has excited the most seasoned palaeontologists, and Burra’s backyard is being described as one of the richer mega fauna sites in Australia.

  • Regional Council of Goyder Offices, 9 am—5pm week days during May.

 

Unveiling of heritage plaques

  • Join us for the unveiling of a heritage plaque on the Regional Council of Goyder building. This event celebrates the installation of thirty plaques on historic sites throughout the Goyder region, a brochure will be available for those who would like to explore these sites. Thursday 26 May, 2 pm

 

Historic stained glass windows

  • Come along and visit our church, completed in 1879, and enjoy our 18 beautiful stained-glass windows. Two particularly impressive windows can be found behind the altar (1893) and behind the font (1921).

  • Sunday 1 May to Tuesday 31 May, 9 am - 4 pm excluding service times (Wednesday 9.15 am - 10 am and Sunday 10 am - 11 am)

 

Historic Burra's antique and collectables fair

  • Saturday 30 April, 10 am - 5 pm; Sunday 1 May, 10 am - 4 pm

  • Burra Town Hall, Market Street, Burra and Burra School Gymnasium, 7 Bridge Street, Burra

 

Bon Accord Museum Open Day

  • Enjoy an open day at the Bon Accord Museum in Burra. . Free entry, sausage sizzle and fire truck and cart rides for children.

  • Sunday 22 May, 10.30 am - 4 pm

 

Progressive dinner at historical sites

  • Take this rare opportunity to see Burra's famous historical sites at night.

  • Tickets from Burra Visitor Information Centre (08) 8892 2154. Bookings required.

  • Saturday 21 May, 6 pm to midnight  Event begins at: Burra Town Hall, Market Street, Burra

 

Seldom seen treasures of the Burra National Trust

  • See a display of memorabilia associated with the Wicklein Family of Burra from the 1890s to the 1960s. A selection of National Trust paper records not normally open to the public will be on display along with an exhibition relating to street lighting in Burra and a tribute to the Kooringa Masonic Lodge.

  • Monday 2 May to Monday 30 May, 11 am - 3 pm. Closed Saturday 21 May and Sunday 22 May Burra Town Hall, Burra

 

Book launch: 'The Works of Frank Treloar: Burra's First Historian'

  • Frank Treloar produced the first history of the Burra Mine 1929. The new publication reprints that rare book along with his incidential writings published in the local paper in the 1920s and 1930s. Visitors can buy book at the end of launch, enjoy refreshments and tour the restored historic Burra Town Hall with its local history displays. Disabled access from rear of Burra Town Hall.

  • Wednesday 18 May, 2 pm Supper Room of the Burra Town Hall, Market Street, Burra

 

Burra Creek historic walk

  • Participants will join a walk of about 1.5 kilometres which visits 20 sites along Burra Creek associated with the era of Burra's famous monster mine.  A guide will outline the social or mining significance of each place visited.  Comfortable footwear essential.  A souvenir booklet will be provided at the conclusion of the walk.

  • Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in May, 2 pm - 4 pm.  Meet outside Burra Visitor Centre, Market Square, Burra

 

Burra Market Square historic walk

  • A guided tour of 24 sites in the heart of historic Burra conducted by members of the Burra History Group. Visitors should allow at least 90 minutes and wear appropriate footwear. A souvenir booklet will be provided at the conclusion of the walk.

  • Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in May, 2 pm - 3 pm. Meet outside Burra Visitor Centre, Market Square, Burra.

 

Find your Burra family

  • Trace your family history with the help of an experienced researcher with access to birth, death and marriage registers, school and council records and photographs. Print-outs of family trees and selected newspaper references available for many families. Disabled access is from the road at the rear of the Burra Town Hall. Bookings required.

  • Every Thursday and Friday in May, 1 pm - 4 pm. Burra Town Hall, Market Street, Burra

 

Visit Burra Railway Station

  • See the restoration work being undertaken at the Burra Railway Station and view a display of railway history photographs in the station master’s office and entrance hall.

  • Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm during May: