Bathurst has a world-class Carillon, one of three Carillons in Australia and the only one in the whole of regional and rural Australia.
This biennial inclusive, accessible Festival will address the commemorative nature of the Carillon as a War memorial through a moving Last Post Ceremony on Friday evening, followed by one day of entertainment and celebration.
Experience the unique sounds of bells, bands, and musical ensembles.
Bathurst Visitor Information Centre
Wiradjuri Country
1 Kendall Avenue
Bathurst NSW 2795
Site by WISDOM
The Festival of Bells program will address the commemorative nature of the Carillon as a War memorial through a moving Last Post Ceremony on Friday evening, followed by one day of entertainment and celebration.
The Festival of Bells organisers reserve the right to alter the program without notice.
Last Post Ceremony
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Last Post Ceremony will be conducted by the Bathurst RSL Sub-branch at sunset on the Friday evening of the Festival of Bells, commemorating the service and sacrifice of local men and women in the Bathurst Roll of Honour.
Festival of Bells
11:00 am – 4:30 pm
A varied program of entertainment and celebration that starts with a World Premiere composition for Carillon and Pealing Bells, followed with change-ringing by All Saints’ Cathedral bellringers, Carillon recitals, and musical ensembles comprising combined school bands, Scots College Pipes and Drums, and Bathurst City & RSL Concert Band to close the Festival performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with a finale of city bells.
Seating is provided by the Festival organisers, BYO picnic rugs and chairs are welcomed.
Carillons (from medieval Latin quadrilionem, meaning four bells) originated in Northern France and the Low Countries of Europe in the middle ages to call people to church worship and to make important civic announcements from town halls.
Unlike other bells which swing, Carillon bells are fixed and are sounded by being struck with either clappers on the inside of the bells, or mechanical hammers on the outside. The clappers are wired to a clavier below, containing batons and pedals. Hammers are played through an electric keyboard or digital carillon system.
By definition, a carillon must have at least 23 cast bronze bells, tuned in chromatic order and capable of harmonising when played together.
The Bathurst Carillon has 47 bells and can be played through either clappers or hammers making it one of only a handful of carillons configured like this in the world.
To honour the service and sacrifice of local men and women who served in World War I, the citizens of Bathurst decided in the 1920s to erect a war memorial that would be dramatically and visually different to any other war memorial in Australia. They decided to raise a Carillon.
Constructed during the Great Depression entirely from community contributions, the Memorial Carillon was opened on Remembrance Day 1933, before an estimated crowd of 15,000. It was reported to be one of the most memorable and well-attended ceremonies in the history of Bathurst
Since 2000, substantial funds were raised from both NSW and Federal Governments and the local community to complete the original vision that was halted due to insufficient funds in the 1930s.
Today, the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon has evolved to embrace local service men and women who have served or fallen in all wars, conflicts, and peace keeping so that we may live in peace and enjoy the freedom we enjoy today.
Their memory lives on in the light of the Eternal Flame and the ringing of the bells of the Memorial Carillon.
The largest bell is inscribed: Thus Bathurst and her surrounding villages honour the men of 1914-1918. Lest We Forget.
Participation from the Villages
The community in Bathurst and surrounding localities rallied to raise funds to construct the War Memorial Carillon building and bells. Ninety years on, Bathurst pays tribute to the contribution from villages in the district. Each named village bell will be sounded during the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Each of the original bells was cast with the Bathurst Council Coat of Arms and Taylor’s emblem and special inscription.
The top tier bells are collectively named Peace Bells.
The second tier of bells are named after villages and localities:
Caloola, Sunny Corner, Wattle Flat, Wimbledon, White Rock, Sofala, Yetholme, Cow Flat, Locksley, Turondale, Vittoria, Evans Plans, Burraga, Limekilns, Hill End & Tambaroora, and Black Springs.
The third tier of bells are named after more locations in the Bathurst region:
Tarana, Duramana, Lagoon, Perthville, Glanmire, Eglinton, Raglan, Peel, O’Connell, Georges Plains, Orton Park, and Dunkeld.
The bottom tier bells (the largest) are named: Kelso, Rockley, and Brewongle.
The third largest bell carries the Red Cross Emblem in honour of the War Nurses.
The second largest bell is inscribed:
“To the ever glorious memory of our fallen comrades. Greater love has no man than this that he lay down his love for his friends.”
The largest bell is inscribed:
“Thus Bathurst and her surrounding villages honour the men of 1914-1918. Lest We Forget.”
The Town Square in Bathurst is home to a unique feature – it has two separate bell towers in the one precinct which house two magnificent musical instruments. The War Memorial Carillon and the All Saints’ Cathedral Bell Tower smile and chat to one another producing a magical symphony of music.
All Saints Anglican Cathedral Bell Tower houses a peal of eight swinging bells with tolling bell on the roof of the tower.On eight bells, bellringers can ring 40,320 changes.
Change ringing is a team activity that combines physical skill and mental alertness to produce unique bell music.