Jennifer Lamb's Journey Through Country commemorates Lachlan Macquarie's visit

The Lieder Theatre Company will stage Journey Through Country on Saturday, October 17, beside the Mulwaree River, either side of the railway viaduct.

The play by Jennifer Lamb, former Goulburn Regional Art Gallery director and history buff, is based on the diary Macquarie wrote about his journey through the Goulburn / Mulwaree Plains in October 1820.

"The diary is surprisingly revealing," Ms Lamb said. "It gives a fascinating insight into Macquarie, his companions, and his servant - and I hope the play does too."

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Journey Through Country is not just about Macquarie's trip, however. It also considers the land he tramped across and the overlooked presence of the Indigenous people who had been here for thousands of years, and who named places such as Cookbundoon, Mulwaree, Moorooaulin, Bundong, Weereewaa and Wallandilli.

In this production, a Woman and Children - invisible to the cast - represent the Aboriginal people.

The play will have a single performance, already sold out. COVID-19 destroyed plans for a three-week run in the Lieder Theatre, but the production will be filmed.

Performing the play outside has its advantages, including live horses and atmosphere. The play will be given on the banks of the Mulwaree River, where Macquarie's entourage travelled. They, however, were on the eastern side, while this weekend's performance will be on the western shore.

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