Sunken Stories of Old Acton Lake Cruises
To help celebrate the 2013 Canberra and Region Heritage Festival, we are holding three special ‘Sunken Stories’ of Old Acton lake cruises. Visit sites now submerged under Lake Burley Griffin, including the old Acton cottages, race-course, hockey fields, nursery, golf club and stop for morning-tea on Springbank Island, the home of many tales. Hear and share stories, and see images collected from past residents and visitors. In partnership with Lake Burley Griffin Cruises, and ACT Heritage. Cost is $10 per person (cash on the day), and bookings are essential.
Click on the links below for times and booking details for each cruise.
Sunday 21st April
Saturday 27th April
Sunday 28th April
This Image: The Old Racecourse at Acton. Supplied by Christine Anderson
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES, STORIES AND PHOTOS DURING 2013
Do you remember Acton before Lake Burley Griffin was filled? Here’s you chance to dust off your photo albums, and recall old tales and anecdotes. Acton Walkways is inviting the Canberra community to share their fond memories of Acton from days past, as part of the ACT Heritage funded project “Sunken Stories of Old Acton.”
Following the arrival of Commonwealth surveyors in 1909, Acton Settlement was to become Canberra’s first ‘suburb’, and remained the administrative and social centre for the next forty years. The area included two golf clubs, a racecourse, 15 workers’ cottages, a riverside tourist park, Australian Rules football, rugby, cricket field and hockey fields, a plant nursery, and most importantly, a close-knit and vibrant community. With the creation of Lake Burley Griffin after the Molonglo River was dammed in 1963-4, much of this early history was lost from view.
Acton Walkways will bring this history to life, and is inviting members of the public to share their old photographs, slides, letters, and family stories for scanning into digital formats. Facilitators are also available to help residents record their short stories and anecdotes on audio or video. The memorabilia will be used (with permission) to produce compilations available for download online for residents and visitors exploring the Acton precinct.
“This project aims to add new voices to those already collected by many dedicated Canberra historians, and present these in a digital format that is accessible and appealing to younger and future generations,” says Kirsty Guster from Acton Walkways.
“This is a great opportunity for members of the community to have their old Acton stories and photos preserved, for their own family libraries and the benefit of the broader community. In addition to raising public awareness of the early history of Acton, we hope to encourage younger Canberrans to be curious about their cultural heritage, and inspire cross-generational dialogue.”
Contact Acton Walkways if you would like to participate and share your stories or photos.
Email: info@actonwalkways.com
Phone: 0437 301 390
