Can you crack the mystery of the missing diplomat? Find out at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra’s event, part of the ACT Heritage Festival. Photo: Supplied.
Mid-century Canberra was a time of innovation, change and optimism and that’s just what’s going to be celebrated throughout this year’s ACT Heritage Festival.
This year’s festival will shine a spotlight on the defining era that transformed Canberra, from bold Modernist architecture and national reforms to Cold War intrigue and the region’s surprising connections to the Moon landing.
One event is The Disappearing Diplomat: a Cold War Mystery Cocktail Event, presented by Hyatt Hotel Canberra and She Shapes History.
The cocktail event will take place on Friday, 1 May, in the hotel’s historic Centenary Ballroom.
She Shapes History CEO Sita Sargeant and her team have been charged with bringing to life a historically accurate depiction of a mid-century incident that sees a most distinguished ambassador go missing in the halls of Hotel Canberra.
“The year is 1952 and the ANZUS Treaty has just come into effect. Nuclear testing has also commenced in the Australian Outback, the King has just died, Queen Elizabeth has been crowned, Menzies is in power and the cold war is in its infancy. A young Rupert Murdoch is hot on the heels of an exclusive scoop and it’s all playing out at Hotel Canberra,” Ms Sargeant said.
“There’s a world of political tension and power play going on under the haze of cigar smoke and martinis.”
Guests should come dressed to the nines for a night of opulence, elegance, espionage and international intrigue.
It’s the third year that Hyatt Hotel Canberra has taken part in the ACT Heritage Festival.
Hotel general manager Shane Jolly said this was an important part in ensuring the hotel’s history and legacy was honoured and embraced as it moved into its second century as Canberra’s oldest hotel.
“Hotel Canberra has played a pivotal role in Australian history, bearing witness to some of the country’s defining moments, from the opening of Parliament House in 1927, to the Royal Commission on Espionage in 1954 and many important diplomatic visits since,” he said.
“Events like these are key to ensuring the history is not lost and that guests can continue to engage in exciting and fun ways with the hotel’s past.”
The cocktail event is one of more than 150 events across the ACT and surrounding region.
There will also be guided walks, tours of iconic buildings, exhibitions, food experiences and even dancing in the dark.
Heritage Minister Chris Steel said the festival played a vital role in celebrating the region’s rich and varied history.
“The Heritage Festival is a great opportunity to discover the stories and designs that have shaped our city and to explore our regional heritage connections,” he said.
“This year’s theme celebrates the visionary planning, creative ambition and cultural transformation of the mid‑century period. It was a time of innovation, optimism and progress that transformed our city and left a rich legacy of modernist architecture.”
While this year’s theme spotlights mid-century heritage, the festival also celebrates the region’s cultural, First Nations, natural and historic places and stories.
Locals and visitors can explore heritage beyond the city, discovering the rich regional connections to Canberra’s history by taking part in events in Goulburn, Yass, Gunning and Queanbeyan.
Mr Steel said other highlights from this year’s festival included testing your bush skills and traditional trades at the Wee Jasper Heritage Fair and exploring Namadgi National Park and the reopened Yankee Hat Aboriginal rock art site with a Ngunnawal guide.
“The full program of events is now online and I encourage the community to plan activities for the school holidays and take this wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s history and culture,” he said.
“We know Canberrans really look forward to the Heritage Festival every year, so I’d like to thank the volunteers, community groups and heritage organisations whose dedication and passion bring the festival to life.”
The ACT Heritage Festival is from 11 April to 10 May. The full program can be found online. Those interested in the Hyatt Hotel Canberra event can book tickets directly here.
Original Article published by Claire Fenwicke on Region Canberra.
