Peterborough Town Hall - Focus for the Peterborough Art Exhbitions
Peterborough is a former railway town located on the fringe of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It hosts the annual Peterborough Art & Cultural Festival over 10 days leading up to the Easter long weekend.
Easter is perhaps the best time for visiting the Flinders Ranges, and this festival is one of the popular Peterborough attractions that brings visitors to this friendly country town to enjoy the pleasant autumn weather.
Peterborough Art Show Sculptures
Originally the festival was known as the Peterborough Art Prize but over the years it has grown to be much more, and the Peterborough Art & Cultural Festival came into being.
The Peterborough Arts Festival has many free events to suit people of all ages, and the festival markets on Saturday March 28 and April 4 always bring in large crowds. Market stalls will be offering home made goodies, fresh local produce, hand made crafts, and of course wholesome country food. Expect to find lots of the exciting collectables that mainly pop up at country market stalls, plus garden plants and other goods.
Many talented South Australian artists and photographers will be showcased at art exhibitions around the town, all competing for the Peterborough Art Prize.
See here for winners exhibited at previous art exhibitions, and more information about the Peterborough Art Prize competition.
Inside Peterborough Visitor Information Centre - a First Class Sleeper Carriage
In conjunction with the art exhibitions, the Goods Shed Papier Mache/Wireworks Exhibition displays unique life-size sculptures hand crafted by local artists from wire and old newspapers. A separate exhibition showcases gorgeous quilts and superb needlework by the Peterborough Patchworkers.
Colourful Quilts at the Peterborough Art Show
The Peterborough Mens Shed have been busily taking advantage of new 3D printing technology like that in
Fab Lab Adelaide. This year they will be using 3D printers to construct a replica of the last working passenger steam train in Peterborough at the Men's Shed on April 4 and 5.
The town of Peterborough is full of history - just walk along the main street and marvel at the magnificent Peterborough Town Hall. Grand old hotels and other buildings are easily found by following the Peterborough
heritage walk, while additional historical displays will be set up during the Peterborough Art & Cultural Festival.
Bob the Railway Dog Sculpture - One of the Peterborough Attractions
There are many other Peterborough attractions which you can learn about at the visitor information centre. You can find it on the main street in a restored first class sleeping carriage from the 1917 East West Express. Kids love to play on the 1880's Y class South Australian Railways steam engine in Town Square. Admire the sculpture of Bob the railway dog, visit the Dragons Rest Habitat Garden, and of course you must see the awesome displays at the
Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre. It's a brilliant exhibition of Peterborough's place in South Australian Railways history.
Fun for Kids - Climbing Aboard the Y Class Steam Engine
To view the current program for the Peterborough Arts Festival
see here. The
Peterborough Council website also has a wealth of information about things to see and do in the area, and a comprehensive list of Peterborough attractions.
If you're going to the Flinders Ranges for the Easter long weekend, don't miss seeing the Peterborough Art & Cultural Festival. Why not also take a look at Terowie on the way - the newest of the
ghost towns in South Australia.
