Ironfest has been an event held in Lithgow for many years, initially commenced as an arts event to celebrate the fact that Lithgow was the birthplace of steelmaking in Australia. It grew to a huge event, celebrating many arts, crafts, jousting, Napoleonic wars reenactments, military displays and the most fun part being people attending in costume, ranging from medieval, military, steam punk to Star Wars. Overall it is just a good fun event. It was last held in 2019.
This year, the event has recommenced, on the weekend after Anzac Day, on a slightly smaller scale, having no jousting or war reenactment. It has also moved to a new home at “Foundations” at the small town of Portland, near Lithgow. This is a wonderful venue, being the former cement works, so has spectacular old industrial buildings. This year there was one other major change. Entry was free, whereas it had previously been rather expensive to visit.
We had a great day out, taking in all the sights and sounds. It was a perfect autumn day, weather wise. Let’s take a walk around.
Of course I am always drawn to anything textile related and there was a lady with some woollen items.
She asked me if I thought they were knitted or crocheted?
It turns out it is neither. The craft is, in fact, “Nalbinding”, which predates both knitting and crochet, with the earliest fragments found dating back to 6500BC. It was interesting watching how it is done, using a needle and length of yarn and worked in the round. The ends have to spliced as you go. The resulting fabric will not unravel, as do the other crafts.
After we finally decided we had seen enough, we visited the adjoining small museum.
It is well set out with a nice collection.
Portland also features a large collection of reproduced advertising paintings on their buildings.
The town has been transformed over the past few years from a grimey industrial town into a vibrant place to visit.
We thought we would spend a couple of hours down there, but in the end spent all day.
9 comments:
Loved this post & after telling you about Lake Goldsmith, I think you would enjoy it too, though nobody dressed up as such. Just lots of steam fumes & dust from the traction engines, etc. Thanks so much for sharing, take care & hugs.
What a fun day that would have been! Did you go in costume? I can see Mick in a suit of armor.
It does look like a great even and worth putting aside time for.
You met some interesting characters.
I've never heard of Nalbinding, it looks and sounds Nordic I thought, then I clicked on the linky! I was correct. LOL
Fantastic costumes and festivities, Janice! I like hearing the history as well. It looks like you are out continuing adventures.
omigosh...that's quite a celebration and fair...fantastic pictures...they really go all out!
That looked like a fun day. There is a Steam Punk area in Oamaru, New Zealand, quite small, but very interesting.
What a fun day. I really admire people who go to all the effort to dress up etc for the enjoyment of others..... fascinating to see that nalbinding ... I have never heard of it...
Hugz
What fabulous outing . My DD and hubby would fit in well there as they belong to a re enactment group and have many costumes and chain mail suits etc. My DD does nilbending and has made many socks , hats etc…..
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