Image by Bill Gannon – Looking NW to NE across the Mitchell River, Queensland

                                                Celebrating the Bicentenary of the birth of Ludwig Leichhardt at the Leichhardt Town Hall between the 16th – 27th October, 2013

The Leichhardt Town Hall will play host to a series of author talks, discussions, workshops and artworks by four artists who followed in the steps of Leichhardt’s 1844-45 expedition.

In 2012-13 artist Bill Gannon followed Ludwig Leichhardt’s 1844-45 trail from South East Queensland, north to the Mitchell River at the base of Cape York, and then across to the Northern Territory to the top of the Top End at the Coburg Peninsula.
Mr Gannon’s artistic accounts of his journey will be on display in the Leichhardt Town Hall in October, to commemorate the Bicentenary of the birth of the man known as the most important German in Australian history.
Artists Jason Benjamin, Sarah Larsen and Maljah Cathy Snow will also be exhibiting works as part of the exhibition. Sydney based artist and Archibald finalist Jason Benjamin accompanied Mr Gannon on the Kakadu to Coburg Peninsula leg of the journey, while Sarah Larsen is a Central Queensland artist who joined Bill on two sections of the trail, and Maljah Cathy Snow is a Gkuthaan woman from the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Exhibition opening hours: 10am – 4pm daily
Dates: 16 – 27 October, 2013 (CLOSED Monday 21 – Tuesday 22)
Location: Leichhardt Town Hall – Corner of Marion and Norton Streets, Leichhardt

Tours available
To organise a tour please contact bronwynt@lmc.nsw.gov.au

Program of Events

• Looking For Leichhardt Exhibition Opening – Wednesday the 16 October, 6-8pm
  The first preview of the exceptional artworks by Jason Benjamin, Bill Gannon, Sarah Larsen, and Maljah Cathy Snow from the Looking for Leichhardt art exhibition. Refreshments will be served and accompanied by music by the Leichhardt Brass Band. Please Register here for the Looking for Leichhardt Exhibition Opening for catering purposes by Wednesday 9 October.
• Meet The Artists – Friday 18 October, 6-8pm
  An artist led tour of the Looking For Leichhardt art exhibition with the four contributing artists: Jason Benjamin, Bill Gannon, Sarah Larsen and Cathy  Maljah Cathy Snow. Hear directly how following in Ludwig’s trail inspired and indeed, affected the development of the works in the exhibition. Please Register here for Meet the Artists for catering purposes by Wednesday 16 October.
•  In the Steps of Leichhardt  – Saturday 19 October, 11am – 12
  Join Leichhardt enthusiast, Jenny Pattison, for a talk on Ludwig Leichhardt’s extensive botanic knowledge, his plant collecting in Sydney and NSW, and his connections to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Please Register here for In the Steps of Leichhardt for catering purposes by Wednesday 16 October.
• Ludwig Leichhardt’s Birthday – Wednesday 23 October – 6-8pm
  In celebration of Ludwig Leichhardt’s 200th Birthday, please join us in the Leichhardt Town Hall for an Author Talk by Dr Darrell Lewis, and some classical German music by the Cacilien Choir. Dr Darrell Lewis’ book, Where is Dr Leichhardt? was released earlier this year. The book posits all of the various theories developed around the disappearance of Ludwig Leichhardt in 1848, and addresses what he calls “the greatest mystery in Australian history – the disappearance of the Leichhardt expedition somewhere in the vastness of the inland”. Light refreshments will also be served including some delicious German Sacher-Torte in honour of Leichhardt.
  Please Register here for Ludwig Leichhardt’s Birthday for catering purposes by Friday 18 October.

                     Artist Talk by Bill Gannon – Saturday 26 October, 10.30 – 11am

Artist Bill Gannon is the lead artist behind the exhibition and expedition in the trail of Ludwig Leichhardt, and he is very passionate and knowledgeable about his subject. Join him to hear about his inspiration and insights on the Leichhardt expedition, and all about the interesting mix of characters that travelled together on the 1844-45 expedition. A light morning tea will be followed by Bill’s Explorer’s Guide to drawing at 11.30am. Please Register here for the Artist Talk by Bill Gannon for catering purposes by Tuesday 22 October.