Campbelltown councillors defend plans for $150k colonial fair, bush dance after backlash

Councillors have clashed over a proposal to hold a $150,000 celebration of colonial history with opponents calling for funding to be redirected to a permanent memorial for one of the state’s worst massacres of Indigenous people.

Councillors have clashed over a proposal to hold a $150,000 celebration of colonial history with opponents calling for funding to be redirected to a permanent memorial for one of the state’s worst massacres of Indigenous people.

Campbelltown Council is pushing ahead with plans to seek NSW Government funding to bankroll an annual “Colonial Market Fair” and community bush dance, in recognition of the region’s colonial past.

Councillor Meg Oates, who has spearheaded the proposal, said the event would recognise and celebrate Campbelltown’s “nationally significant colonial history”.

But critics have labelled the event “insensitive” and lambasted the timing of the funding application which comes in the same month as the anniversary of one the worst colonial massacres of Indigenous people in the state’s history, the Appin Massacre.

This year will mark 208 years since the massacre in which an estimated 14 Indigenous Dharawal men, women and children were shot at and driven over the gorge of the Cataract River.

A bush dance would feature at the proposed event. Picture: file.

Councillor Margaret Chivers said she could not support seeking funding for a celebration of colonial history.

“For us to celebrate the heritage of colonial people once more when our Dharawal people were massacred and driven off the cliff like dogs – I think those days are gone,” she said.

“I expect with there be a demographic that just could not involve themselves with that because it would be all too painful.”

An annual ceremony is held at the Appin Massacre site.

Councillor George Brticevic has also hit out at the proposed event and called for the $150,000 funding application to be redirected into creating a larger memorial to recognise the Appin Massacre.

Campbelltown resident Peter Jones, who helps organise the annual memorial at the massacre site, believes the money could be better spent.

“We’ve been trying to get a permanent memorial and recognition because all we have at the moment is a small plaque about the size of an A4 piece of paper,” he said.

“There’s already a significant recognition of the colonial history of Campbelltown yet the whole settlement was created by taking lands from other people which is a fact that always gets shoved under the carpet.”

Campbelltown councillor Meg Oates.

Councillor George Brticevic.

A council report stated “deep consultation” and involvement from all local stakeholders would be “critical to deliver a successful program to mitigate risk of relationship damage and negative community sentiment.”

But councillor Meg Oates said she could not see how celebrating “all of our history could possibly be harmful”.

“The colonial history of Campbelltown has some good points, it has some sad points and I think that’s the whole part of truth telling,” she said.

A photo of a previous commemoration to remember the Appin Massacre.

“There’s so much rich history that is gradually getting lost and unless we keep reminding ourselves of it, it will disappear forever.”

Councillors had proposed to host the event at Hurley Park Cattle Tanks in Hurley Park, however the council has deemed the site as unsuitable as it is currently subject to an Aboriginal Land Title Claim.

Alternative sites are now being considered in consultation with the council’s heritage planner, Aboriginal Reference Group and the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society.

A photo of the plaque at the Appin Massacre site.

Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss has backed the proposed event saying “you can’t cherry pick parts of history”.

Councillor Karen Hunt said the fair would be an “acknowledging our colonial background and lifestyle.”

“Whether people like it or not, it happened. We evolved from the colonies and we’re just trying to celebrate it, maintain it and honour it,” she said.

The funding application will be made to Heritage NSW and if supported, the event is expected to be held in 2026.

It is understood the fair could highlight local arts and crafts, while the bush dance would recognise traditional dances popular between 1860-1950 in which people gathered in woolsheds for music played by bush bands.