Rare Dunbar artefacts on display
by Shirani Aththas on 1 Aug 2007
Dunbar Australian National Maritime Museum
http://www.anmm.gov.au
Special viewings of never-before-seen artefacts salvaged from the Dunbar such as gold dentures, belt buckles, tap keys, and other personal items will be held by the National Maritime Museum as part of its commemorative weekend program to mark the anniversary of the tragic wreck.
The wreck of the Dunbar off Sydney Heads in 1857 is widely considered one of the worst maritime disasters to ever happen in Australia…with the loss of over 120 lives.
The weekend program will begin on Friday 17 August at 6.15 pm with a special Dunbar anniversary evening presentation.
The evening will feature a talk by Kieran Hosty, curator of ship technology and maritime archaeology at the museum, on the unprecedented impact the wreck had on Sydney. His lecture will be supported by viewings of rare Dunbar artefacts from the museum’s collection.
The talk will be followed by the Sydney premiere of Dunbar – A Folk Opera by Armidale’s ‘Shipshape Theatre Company’.
Opera lyric writer Jim Scanlan teamed up with composer Christopher Purcell, both from Armidale, to create the folk opera and convey the drama and tragedy of the 1857 wreck.
Set in the present day, the storyline centres on a dramatic encounter between the ghost of the doomed ship’s captain, James Green, and the great-great-grandson of the one Dunbar survivor.
The program will be repeated at the museum, free of charge, on Saturday and Sunday
Saturday 18 August 2007
11.30 am performance of Dunbar – A Folk Opera by Shipshape Theatre Company
12.30 pm Dunbar lecture by David Nutley, maritime archeologist – NSW Heritage Office
1.00 pm presentation of Dunbar objects, led by one of the museum’s senior conservators
2.00 pm performance of Dunbar – A Folk Opera by Shipshape Theatre Company
Sunday 19 August 2007
12.30 pm Dunbar lecture by Paul Hundley, senior curator at the museum
1.00 pm presentation of Dunbar objects, led by one of the museum’s senior conservators
2.00 pm performance of Dunbar – A Folk Opera by Shipshape Theatre Company
Tickets to the Friday commemorative evening are $20 per person (incl. reception of Ensign wine, cheese and James Squire beer). Bookings essential, phone (02) 9298 3644.
Entry to the Saturday and Sunday program is free.
The Australian National Maritime Museum, at Darling Harbour, is open daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm. All inquiries, (02) 9298 3777.
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