ACT Monaro Riverina Branch: Winter Lecture 2026: Majura House and the future of the past

The Winter Lecutre 2026 will be presented by Mark Butz.

As we move closer to the centenary of our national parliament, let’s look at the preceding hundred years, local European land use then, and how it has developed to what we know today.

Majura House is one of Canberra’s oldest buildings and the land around it is perhaps the oldest continuously occupied farm in the ACT. Mark Butz’s presentation will focus on its history and values, and it will consider the future of its heritage buildings and rural landscape as part of the city of Canberra.

Majura House, situated at the foot of Mount Ainslie, dates from the mid-1800s. The house and property were part of the Duntroon Estate. Today we can see a way of life and land use from the 1820s onward. The Mayo family lived and worked there for generations and many Mayo family graves can be found in the graveyard at St John’s Reid, the original Duntroon chapel.

Majura House and Property was an important part of our Australian pastoral identity.

Mark Butz is a well-known social historian. He has a background in environmental science and heritage research and documentation. His public report Majura House Precinct ACT: Report on Heritage Values (2023) emphasises local land use over the past 200 years, what it is now and what it may be in the future.

Refreshments will be provided after the lecture.

Venue: The Chambers Pavilion, The Centre for Christianity & Culture, 15 Blackall St, Barton.

Cost: $22 AGHS & National Trust members, $27 others (including refreshments)

Book: at Trybooking.

Inquiries: Mary Johnson- actmrinfo@gardenhistorysociety.org.au.