Historical reenactment in Australia

Historical reenactment in Australia has been occurring since at least the mid-1970s. Three main umbrella groups, the Queensland Living History Federation (QLHF) and the Australasian Living History Federation (ALHF)and the Australian Reenactors Association (ARA), formed to represent the interests of re-enactment and living history groups around Australia.

The Australasian Living History Federation was formed in 2002 ^[1] and acts as a focus for historical reenactment and living history societies portraying aspects of world history within Australia (except Queensland).

The Queensland Living History Federation (QLHF) formed in 1997 to represent the interests of reenactors and living historians in Queensland. Member groups of the QLHF range from Ancient Rome to the Vietnam War era. Membership of QLHF is based on high standards of safety, authenticity, research and performance.^[2]

The Australian Reenactors Association (ARA) formed in 2012 to represent members' focus on different historical periods and locations from the Classical Ancient world through to Australians in the Second World War. Aside from organising public liability insurance, the ARA also acts to represent members’ interests in areas such as legislation that affects re-enactment activities. The ARA offers members, event organisers and the public, advice and guidance on such things as performance and display safety and the reasonable presentation of historical accuracy in recreational re-enactment activities.

The Australasian Register of Living History Organisations (ARLHO) is a website that provides links to living history groups in Australia and New Zealand.

The Dark Ages, medieval, and Renaissance periods are popular eras for reenactments, and the three largest events, as measured by participants, focus on these eras of history. 18th and 19th century reenactment groups are also popular, and convey Australian interest in early colonial pre-federation military regiments. The history of the Australian Light Horse regiments an the area of Australian history with wide interest, with nearly 15 groups, the first starting in 1978 ^[3] formed to reenact this period of military history. There is also some focus on the Australian Pioneer era.

With no conventional land battles and few protracted civil disturbances since the British colonisation of Australia, most military reenactment in Australia focuses on events from other countries (mostly European), including the European Feudal, medieval, and renaissance eras, and American Civil War. The Viking Era is popular. The oldest surviving reenactment groups in Australia are the Ancient and Medieval Martial Arts Society, originally established in the 1970s, the New Varangian Guard founded in early 1981. In Queensland, the Knights Guild of Wessex and Mercia Inc was formed in 1979–80. While focused more on living history rather than reenactment, the Society for Creative Anachronism was formed as a local group in Sydney in 1980,^[4] before officially joining the U.S.-based group in late 1981.

Periods

Classical

Several groups and individuals reenact the classical period, with an emphasis on Greece and Republican Rome. Groups include, the Sydney Ancients Hoplite and Roman Society, Pax Romana (Qld), and Mare Nostrvm (Qld).

Dark ages

Many groups focus on the Viking, late Roman, and Early Byzantine eras. The New England Medieval Arts Society (NEMAS) Easter Festival focuses on this era, and 25 or so living history groups that specialise in this era attend this event. One of the larger groups, the New Varangian Guard (NVG), with chapters in a number of cities, focuses on both this period and the early medieval period. Other groups include Ironguard Medieval Society located in Central West NSW, the Blue Mountains NSW and Illawarra NSW . One of the older and most established groups Europa at Springwood NSW who focus on the Viking occupation of York. Queensland groups portraying this period include, Staraya Ladoga, Saga Vikings Inc. .

While arguably not as authentic, this is a popular area of focus for the Kingdom of Lochac, a subgroup of the Society for Creative Anachronism in Australia.

Medieval

The Society for Creative Anachronism was probably the largest group to focus on this period, however in recent years metal-edged groups have become increasingly popular and rival SCA numbers today. Other groups include Company of the Staple, The Knights Order of Lion Rampant (Qld), Company of the Wolf, Condottieri (Qld), the Company of the Phoenix (Qld), MCC (Medieval Combat & Culture) Based in Southern Highlands and Central West NSW, Black Company (NSW), the Enterprise of the Black Garter and Oltramar (Qld).Another multi era group is Order of the Horse (QLD). Order of the Horse one of the largest multi era historical cavalry groups that covers late 12thc 3rd Crusades Saracen and the 4th,5th and 6thc Crusades up to early 13thc, the late 14thc cavalry and joust. The Order of the Horse is the first to create a complete Saracen mounted combat cavalry under Sultan Salah-ad-Din late 12thc Sultan.

Renaissance – Early Modern

While less numerous, there are a number of groups that focus on this period. The largest is the Pike and Musket Society (also known as the Routiers) and the New England Colonial Living History Group. There are a number of schools that teach historical fencing techniques from this era, including the Stoccata school of Defence and Prima Spada School of Fence (Qld).^[5] Other groups in this period include Das Törichte Leben (Qld), and Historia Germanica (Qld).

19th Century

A number of groups focus on the activity of early colonial units. Sometimes these groups are based around a particular feature, like an historical fort. Other times, they focus on the history of an actual unit from the area. There is some interest in American Civil War reenactment, perhaps as a result of Australia's role in the conflict. Groups in Queensland focusing on this period include: 19th Century Queensland, The Queensland Colonial Association, and the Victoria Barracks Historical Society. Order of the Horse (QLD) also focuses on Napoleonic cavalry specializing in heavy cavalry.Order of the Horse founder of the group was the first to create the French 3eme,4eme Dragoon cavalry, 3e French Cuirassiers and the Brunswick Hussars unit in Australia.

Gympie, Queensland is home to the Gympie Historical Reenactment Association which recreates the days of the Bush Rangers and the gold rush.

20th Century

Many groups focus on later periods, still within living memory - World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. While there may be some opposition to groups with such a focus, many individuals have connections to this period through family and friends who served. There are a number of groups who portray this era in Queensland including, Army Group South, Contact Front - Vietnam War Living History Australia, Cobbers in Khaki and Green, and The Standard Bearers.

Australian Light Horse

The focus on Australian Light Horse is quite large, considering that most participants must provide their own horse. There are many Australian groups that participate in light horse reenactment. Unusual for Living history groups, the Light Horse groups participate in war memorial services. It was up until only recently that actual veterans from the campaigns still rode in memorial services, and the Light Horse reenactors often have connections with their local Returned Services League. Groups normally reenact the units that were historically active in their areas. The oldest historical reenactment group in Australia is "A Troop – Richmond/Windsor", started in 1978.^[6]

Events

A number of smaller feasts, drill practices, weekend events, and tournaments are held throughout the year. These typically focus on the period dealt with by the group. Some historical groups are involved in ceremonial duties and teaching history. The Light Horse living history group and many 20th Century groups have associations with the Returned Services League (RSL) and are usually involved in ANZAC day duties. There has been a reenactment of the Castle Hill convict rebellion (also known as the Battle of Vinegar Hill) and the Eureka Stockade, two historical battles of significance on Australian soil. The Australian Medieval Conference is a large biennial event focusing on arts, culture, and combat of this period.

There are several large living history events held regularly:

NECLHG Winter Solstice 18th Century Masquerade Party

This event is hosted every mid-winter by the New England Colonial Living History Group in Wychwood Forest near Armidale, New England New South Wales.

NEMAS Easter Gathering – Armidale

This event is a large Dark Age biennial Easter Gathering in Armidale in northern New South Wales. This is a combination of reenactment groups from various parts of the world namely Australia and New Zealand, held every second Easter in The Armidale Pine Forest. It is attended by around 500 people, with numbers growing every year.^[7][8]

Rowany Festival

The Society for Creative Anachronism has held the Rowany Festival annually since April 1983,^[9] and is the longest running medieval/living history event in Australia. About 1,200 reenactors usually attend, the largest number of Society members at any one event in Australia. SCA Heavy Combat activities at Rowany Festival have had more than 300 participants.

Medieval Conference

The Medieval Conference is a four-day event which has been held every two years since 1983. The first conference was held in the mid-1970s in a back yard, with the second hosted at the Macquarie University playing fields (now the M2 Toll Plaza) in October 1983.^[10][11] Participants seek to recreate the life and times of a number of specific periods of history from the ancient period to around 1650 AD. There are many activities, including lectures and workshops on historical and cultural topics, arts and crafts, feasts, games, and combat. It is an opportunity for all reenactment groups to showcase what they do and to share their knowledge.

Abbey Tournament

Held at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, the Abbey Medieval Festival is a large festival held to generate interest and to educate the public. It includes over 30 medieval re-enactment groups covering the period from 600 to 1600 AD in Europe and the Middle East. It features combat, music, dance, craft, and two large medieval banquets. It is the largest living history event by attendance, attracting over 37,000 spectators in 2012.

History Alive: A Journey Through Time

Held annually over the June long weekend at Fort Lytton National Park in Lytton, Queensland, History Alive: A Journey Through Time, is a multi-period re-enactment event with living history groups representing periods from the Roman era to the Vietnam War era. Run by the Queensland Living History Federation, the event aims to showcase re-enactment and Fort Lytton. The event offers visitors a great day out with a historical focus.

See also

• List of historical reenactment groups
• Living history
• Society of Creative Anachronism, Australia

^[1]

External links

• The Australasian Living History Federation
• The Queensland Living History Federation
• ARLHO: The Australian Register of Living History Organisations
• 14th Medieval and Re-enactment Conference
• 15th Australasian Historical Conference
• The Australasian Medieval Convention Archive
• The Abbey Tournament
• History Alive: a Journey Through Time...

1. ↑ The Australian Reenactors Association