Macquarie commemoration

Lachlan Macquarie

THE 200th anniversary of the first visit by colonial governor-in-chief Lachlan Macquarie to the "district of New Norfolk" will be celebrated this Sunday at Arthur Square from 2-4pm, followed by an ecumenical service at St Matthew's Anglican Church at 5.30pm.

Governor Macquarie visited New Norfolk on November 27, 1811, staying overnight at the home of Denis McCarty who is regarded as the town's first settler. Macquarie was taken with the local setting and decreed that "Elizabeth Town" would be the name for the local settlement between the River Derwent and the creek he named the Thames. On his next visit, 10 years later, he renamed the creek after his son, Lachlan.

Macquarie later dispatched surveyor James Meehan to lay out a town plan including a village green. That green, Arthur Square, will be the venue for this Sunday's commemorations at 2pm. The program includes:

• Royal Anthem (God Save the King, as it was in 1811)
• Flag raising
• National Anthem (Advance Australia Fair)
• Governor Macquarie's speech
• Derwent Valley Concert Band
• Performance by Uisce Reatha of colonial tunes about New Norfolk written by Alexander Laing
• Afternoon tea by invitation
• Church service at 5.30pm

These events will take place at the Stephen St end of Arthur Square. In the event of inclement weather the program will take place in the St Matthew's Church Hall, Bathurst St, New Norfolk.