Join us for a 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.
Location: Historic Port Macquarie, Australia
When: Saturday 25 October – Saturday 1 November 2025
Options include week, 4 day, and single day tickets
Objective: To engage the community in a unique and immersive experience of convict culture, focusing on the arts that brought joy and solace to convicts during their time in Port Macquarie and beyond.
Focus: Interactive workshops to encourage active participation.
Workshops : 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.
Free events at Port Macquarie Library:
Exhibition in Library: Monday 13th October – 1st November.
Official Launch: Monday 27th October 2:30-3:30pm. Join us for the official launch of the Dancing in Fetters exhibition, and Convict Culture Week. An introduction by Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke with music, song and afternoon tea.
Concert/dance: Friday 31st October 6:00 -8:00pm A concert featuring convict music, song and dance. Refreshments provided courtesy of the Library.
Concert at St Thomas Church: Saturday 1st November. A concert featuring convict music, song and dance. Refreshments provided courtesy of the Church. Gold coin donation.
Celebrating Bombastes Furioso, a play performed by convicts in 1825.
Featuring convict music, song, dance, and theatre:
- Welsh convict fiddler, William Wood
- Scottish convict fiddler, Alexander Laing
- Convict musician and dancing master, John Bushelle
- Music and dance from Lake Innes House
- Music, songs and dance from the 1825 convict production of the play, Bombastes Furioso
Workshop Presenters: Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke (Qld), Roland Clarke (Qld), David Johnson (NSW), John Tomlin (Tas), Trish Williams (Tas), Gemma O’Shea (NSW), Ross Roache (NSW)
Tickets
Complete Week Saturday 25 October – Saturday 1 November 2025 ……..$350
Four days (select your days) ………………………………………………………… $250
Single days (select any day)…………………………………………………………….$70
Week’s ticket includes all workshops and sessions, visit to Innes House Ruins, morning and afternoon teas.
Four Day ticket includes all workshops and sessions, morning and afternoon teas. Please select the days you wish to attend. Can include the visit to Innes House Ruins,
Day ticket includes all workshops and sessions, morning and afternoon teas.
Visit to Innes House Ruins is on Wednesday 29 October.
Not included: meals, accommodation
Draft Programme
Venues:
St Thomas Church Hall, 50 Hay Street, Port Macquarie (next to the convict built church)
Historic Court House, Corner Hay Street and Clarence Street, Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie Library, 32 Grant Street, Port Macquarie
Ruins of Lake Innes House, Lake Innes Nature Reserve near Port Macquarie
Photos from previous events
Concert at the Commissariat Store in Brisbane, and Convict Culture Week on Norfolk Island.
This exhibition explores part of Australia’s convict history and highlights that dance and music can lift the human heart even in our most challenging times. This is an important story to tell.
EDITH CUFFE, DIRECTOR OF ABBEY MUSEUM OF ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
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