Full steam ahead
With two more ‘weekends in the valley’ left in the Richmond Bicentenary program, there is plenty of time to help commemorate the 200th anniversary of one of Tasmania’s most historic towns.
The four days between 24 and 27 February will mark the bicentenary of the town’s proclamation and feature Open House Richmond, special events, town walks and exhibitions.
Open House Richmond will offer visitors the opportunity to explore the spaces, learn the history and hear the stories of more than 20 properties across Richmond and the Coal River Valley.
“This will be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a range of architectural styles spanning across the past 200 years,” Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley said.
The closing weekend, Fruits of the Valley, will be held from 8 to 11 March and will include the Richmond Fair, farm gate events and a street party for residents.
The Bicentenary program kicked off in early December in line with the 200th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia still in use.
Included in the commemorations has been acknowledgment of the traditional owners of the land, the Mumirimina people of the Oyster Bay nation, who were devastated by British settlement.
“The history of the region was incredibly rich and began long before Richmond Village was established,” Mayor Blomeley said.
“As well as the better-known colonial history, which is so often celebrated, we must also recognise the shameful harm caused to the indigenous people of these lands by colonial settlers.
“The history and stories of the Mumirimina people is less known but equally as important.”
Throughout all five weekends an exhibition titled ‘Mumirimina: People and Country’ has been displayed in the Richmond Courthouse, featuring 12 reproductions of artworks depicting the people and stories of lands stolen and lives ruined by the colonial settlement of Richmond.
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