Australiasian Medieval Convention Publications Archive
This is an eclectic mix of flyers, brochures, ads and copies of the conferention booklets. If you have any I'm missing, please send them to me. Identifying information, such as phone numbers and addresses has been obscured to prevent confusion, as most of us have moved a couple of times since these were published.
The primary purpose of this collection is for future conference organisers to see what other people have done in the past and with the reviews and other club documents, to see what worked, didn't work or was missed. The secondary purpose is as a backup of all the stuff I've collected over the years.
Wahroonga, NSW 1973
Macquarie Uni, NSW 1983
- Full page advert, map, provisional programme, two page national body discussion paper and application form New Hedeby, August 1983.
- Half page ad, provisional programme, application form and payment advice, New Hedeby, September 1983.
- The Second Australian Warriors' Conference 1983 Booklet, 26pp, A4 format, 4.3MB download.
Contents include:- A Short History of the Medieval movement in Australia, starting with the founding of AMMAS in 1972.
- Transcripts of the presentations, including Stephen Hand's infamous Transitional Armour lecture
- Dark Age building techniques
- Basic Weaponsmithing
- Post convention letter from Dave Robinson regarding success at the conferention from the front page of New Hedeby, November 1983.
Maldon, VIC 1985
- Advert for Maldon 85 from New Hedeby, November 1983.
- Full page proposal New Hedeby, February 1984.
- Letter thanking correspondents for ideas and offers to run workshops New Hedeby, July 1984.
- Information sheet for Maldon 85 sent to all registered atendees and clubs. This copy from 1066's Runestone Magazine, Bumper Solstice Edition, 1984.
- The Third Australian Warriors Conference Booklet 12pp, A5 format, 1.93MB download.
Contents include:- Welcome
- Programme and Menu
- Background on The Battle of Maldon (AD991)
- Site Map
- Medieval Culinary Delights
- Club contact list
Castle Mountain, NSW 1987
- Castle Mountain 1987 Flyer undated. 1p A4 format, 229KB download.
- Editorial from Varangian Voice Issue 7, July 1986, in support of the Castle Mountain Conference. 1p, A4 format, 124KB download.
- Castle Mountain 1987 Convention Booklet 14pp, A5 format, 1.85MB download.
Contents include:- Introduction and Thank Youse
- Programme and map
- The Gentle Art of Mass Football
- General Combat Rules for Melees
- Archery Competition Rules
- Classifieds and Club contact list
Maldon, VIC 1989
- Announcement of Maldon 89. The 1989 Conference was originally to be co-hosted by The Canberra Medieval Guild and the Blue Mountains garison of Wolfshead, most likely at the Brindabella Community Arts Farm near Canberra in the ACT. Due to reasons I won't go into, this was aborted and there was some uncertanty about the 89 conferention happening at all until this little gem was received by each club. A copy of the open letter sent to all clubs who attended Castle Mountain by the NVG, stating their intent to host the 1989 Conference if no information regarding the original plan was received by 15 June 88 is here.
The Wolfshead people (who just after Maldon 89 split from Wolfshead to become Dryhtenfyrd) went on to host the 1991 conference with MMAASS and stupidly, the 1993 Conference with the Australasian Medieval Convention Society Incorporated (which bore a striking resemblance to the 2009 Conference Committee). - Breaking with tradition, there was no conference booklet for 1989. Instead, there was a five-page supplement in the newly-resurrected New Hedeby (Vol 6, Issue 1, March 1989). 5pp, A4 format, 1.1MB download.
- Post-conference anonymous letter to the editor, and a Conferention review by me, both from Wulfstunge Magazine, July 1989. The quality of the reproduction is fairly poor due to a server crash forcing the printing to be done from a draft copy of the magazine.
- Conference reviews by Natalie and Eggy from Varangian Voice issue 14, April 1989. 2pp, 2pp A4 format, 323KB, 205KB downloads.
- An editorial review from the point of view of the host club, from Varangian Voice issue 14, April 1989. 1p, A4 format, 268KB download.
- Letters to the Editor, Varangian Voice issue 14, April 1989. 1p, A4 format, 80KB download.
Cataract, NSW 1991
- Committee Update from January 1991. This copy is taken from Varangian Voice,Number 19, February 1991.
- 6th Australian Mediaeval Conference Cataract, Easter 1991 Booklet, 10pp, A5 format, 1.0MB download.
I think this is one of the better booklets, but seeing I wrote and typeset the text and did the layout, I'm probably biased. Possibly the last one done the old way where the text was typeset and then the text and images were cut and pasted in to the final form using a scalpel, straightedge and glue.
Most of the artwork and caligraphy was by Mike Mills from Dryhtenfyrd, who, for no apparent reason, is missing from the credits. Sorry, Mike.
Contents include:- Welcome, Site Regulations and Acknowledgements
- Site and locality information
- Programme
- Combat rules, competition rules and site map
- Abstracts of the lectures and lecturer backgrounds
- Metamorphosis of the Roman World in to the Medieval World - Dr Lynette Olsen
- Presentation of Medieval Music - Robert Eely
- The Role of Women in the Dark Ages - Dr Carole Cusack
- Reconstruction and the Practicing Archaeologist - Jonathan Wooding
- Military Architecture - Stephen Wylie
- Svendborg, Reality of the Middle Ages - Dr Aedeen Cremin
- Authenticity and the Medieval Movement - Stephen Hand
- Myths and Legends Surrounding the Drawing of the Longbow - Prof R Ian Jack
- Calligraphy and Knotwork - Wayne Robinson and Michael Mills (the abstract mentions Mike did the artwork for the book, so I didn't miss mentioning him after all)
- Club contacts and classifieds
Glenfield, NSW 1993
- The first flyer advertising the character "Gonad the Bavarian" was sent to a number of clubs for inclusion in their magazines. Gonad's adventures continued in the updates, over the past five years I've managed to find most of them again. 1p, A4, 251KB.
- The original update, February 1992. I guess this is update zero. 2pp, A4, 205KB.
- The first update, June 1992. 3pp, A4, 350KB.
- I'm still looking for Update 2, probably August 1992.
- Update three, October 1992. 6pp, A4, 703KB.
- Update four, December 1992. 3pp, A4, 349KB.
- Update five, February 1993 (yes, I know it says 1992). 7pp, A4, 604KB.
- The Registration Form. This was sent with most of the updates. 2pp, A4, 141KB.
- Seventh Australasian Mediaeval Conference Glenfield, 1993 Booklet, 24pp, A4 format, 6.4MB download.
Certainly the best I've been involved in organising, Glenfield introduced a number of innovations that are now taken for granted. Rule by a committee drawn from a geographical region rather than one club, publication of regular updates leading up to the event, evolution of the mutually agreed combat rules from the previous convention, rather than the host group's rules imposed and publicised competition rules. This was the first appearance of the current combat rules in a recognisable form, and with the current structure of a base set of rules, and optional annexures.
Contents include:- Welcome, Site Regulations and Acknowledgements
- Site and locality information
- Meet the committee
- Programme
- Combat, competition and games rules and site map
- Abstracts of the lectures and lecturer backgrounds
- Roman Military Manuals - Justin Holland
- Lindisfarne AD793-1993 - Twelve Glorius Centuries - Jonathan Wooding
- Violence and Manners 1300-1700 - Stan Greaves
- Club contacts and classifieds
- A fine selection of reviews from The Routier Special Autumnal Equinox Winter Thing Issue 1993. 17pp, A4, 1.32MB.
AMCA Combat Rule Survey 1994
One of the decisions of the State of the Movement Meeting at Glenfield was to run a survey to identify exactly how different standards of training and the combat rules were between clubs. Steve Wyley volunteered to run the survey and collated the results, which were sent to clubs in April 1994. Most of the recommendations have been incorporated in the Guidelines for Interclub Combat on this website. 20pp, A4, 748KB.
Brisbane, QLD 1995
- The Bus Trip to Brisbane Convention information sheet, Dryhtenfyrd Re-enactment Society. 2pp, A4, 41.4KB.
- Eighth Australasian Mediaeval Conference Booklet Clermont 1095-Brisbane 1995 — 900 Years of Crusading Ardour, 47pp, A4 format, 10.6MB download.
Contents include:- Welcome, Site Regulations and Acknowledgements
- Site and locality information
- Meet the committee
- Programme
- Combat, competition, Combat Archery and games rules and site map
- Menu (featuring the magical vanishing goat)
- Abstracts of the lectures and lecturer backgrounds including:
- Swordsmanship in the Seventeenth Century- David Green
- Inkleloom Weaving Workshop - Kirsten Bishop
- Anglo-saxon Women and the Norman Conquest - Susan Drain
- A View of Monastic Life in the Middle Ages - Wes Jordan
- Horsework in the Medieval Movement - Michael Hunter
- Spearfighting and Two Handed Weapons - Dennis Nadazdy
- Dance Workshop - Joanna Keenan
- The Wounds of War/Warrior Elite Groups - The Jomsvikings and Knights Templar - Carole Chandler
- The Weapon Must Dictate the Style, Not The Style Dictate the Weapon - Scott MacDonald
- The Vikings of Russia - Stephen Lowe
- Legal Rights of Caterpillars and Carriages in Early Modern Europe - Stan Greaves
- The European Broadsword and Circular Shield - Simon Fowler
- The Myth of Mail - John Topping
- Elanor of Aquitane - Laura Chandler
- Classifieds
Sokil, VIC 1997
- Ninth Australasian Medieval Conference Update Volume 1 Issue 1, Letterbox Firebomb Special Re-issue Jan 1996. 4pp, A4, 234KB. This issue was a hurried reprint following the firebombing of the letterbox that the original issue had been set from. I didn't get a copy of the original, so I guess mine was one of the black crispy ones.
- Asterix and the '97 Conference, November 1996. 8pp, A4, 534KB. This appears to be the second update but I'm uncertain if any are missing.
- Conference Update, undated, early 1997?. 12pp, A4, 843KB.
- Conference Application Form. 2pp, A4, 77.7KB.
- The Ninth Australasian Mediaeval Conference Handbook Sokil 1997, 23pp, A4 format, 10.6MB download.
Contents include:- Welcome
- Site information
- Site conditions
- Site map
- Lectures and Workshops
Abstracts of the lectures and lecturer backgrounds including:- Fighting by the Book - Andrew Brew, Stephen Hand, David Green and Peter Radvan
- Tablet Weaving - Lynnette Simpson
- Target and Combat Archery - Blair Cooke
- New Hedeby Discussion - David Earl
- How to Win in Re-enactment Melee Combat - Simon Fowler
- Belly Dancing - Marrian Castell
- Medieval Dance Workshop - Paul Anderson
- Weapons Workshop - various
- Introduction to Textiles for New Re-enactors - Lynnette Simpson
- Reconstruction and Use of Seige Engines - Russel Miners and John Southall
- Reproduction, Birth and Contraception - Dr Anne Gilmour-Bryson, Melbourne University
- Beginning Caligraphy - Mark Dancer
- Singing - Louise Atkinson
- Costuming Metalwork - Chips Witthread
- Anglo Saxon Women and the Norman Conquest - Sue Drain
- The History of Archery - Steve Wyley
- Violence and Animals in Early Modern Europe - Stan Greaves
- Weaving - Taliesien Beechmore
- Rus, The Pagan Empire: Paganism and Heresy in the Middle Ages - Ian Rodgers and Mark Chapman
- The Ups and Downs of Horse Combat - Graham Billings
- Pre-Christian European Practices - Sean Galladar
- Finds from the Oseberg and Gokstad Ships - Andrea Reddan
- Medieval Cookery for the Re-enactor - Melissa O'Brien
- Guidelines for Competitions
- Guidelines for Projectile Combat
- Guidelines for Combat
- Menu
- Classifieds
- The History of Archery a Conference Lecture & Accompanying Index, by Stephen F Wyley, from Varangian Voice Issue 46, February 1998. 5pp, A4, 2.55MB.
- Reviews and photographs from The National Routier Vol 13, No 2, The Issue for Winter 1997. 11pp, A4, 885KB.
Rowsley, VIC 1999
- X.A.M.C. Final Update, undated. 2pp, A4, 118KB.
- Tenth Australasian Mediaeval Conference Booklet, Rowsley - Victoria 1999. 22pp, A4 format, 1.92MB download.
Contents include:- Welcome, Meet the Committee, Restrictions and Vehicle Access
- General Information
- First Aid
- Seating at Meals
- Booze Prices
- Disclaimer
- Marshals' Meeting
- State of Movement
- Competition Judging
- Full Meals Menu
- Timetable
- Guidelines for combat
- Guidelines for Interclub Archery
- General Projectile Combat Rules
- XAMC: Rowsley 1999; A Conference Retrospective, from The International Routier Vol 15, No 1, Autumn 1999 and reprinted in Vol 20, No 2, Winter 2004. 3pp, A4, 128KB.
- Moments from XAMC, a photo essay and match report on the North vs South stoolball game. From The International Routier Vol 15, No 1, Autumn 1999. 7pp, A4, 2.35MB.
Bowraville, NSW 2001
- Conferention Flyer for Bowraville. About July 2000. 1p A4 format, 166KB download
- 2001 a Medieval Odyssey Lorrien Holiday Lodge & Retreat, Bowraville NSW booklet. 22p A4 format, 646KB download
Contents include:- Site rules
- Site map
- Timetable
- Combat rules
- Projectile combat rules
- Waiver
- Competitions
- Archery
- Bardic
- Virulent Curse or Boasting
- Glima (Icelandic/Welsh Wrestling)
- Brewing - grain based or others
- Other Competitions - Armouring, Weaponmaking, Jewellery, Handicraft, Costuming, Woodwork, Leatherwork, Best camouflaged non-period item
- Workshops and lectures
- Organisers
- Site map for Bowraville, distributed loose with the booklet. 1p A4 format, 24.6KB download
- Timetable for Bowraville, distributed loose with the booklet. 5p A4 format, 669KB download
- Relax-E-Con, review of the 2001 Conference from The International Routier Vol 17, No 2, Spring 2001. 1p, A4, 73.6KB.
Porepunkah, VIC, 2003
- Receipt and information pack sent to attendees. 6pp, A4, 216KB.
- XII Australasian Convention Kids Book. I've left out the pages that had pictures for the kids to colour as I'm unsure of copyright on the images. 5pp A4 format, 407KB download
Contents include:- Message to Parents and Kids
- Children's Activities Timetable
- Pictures to colour (ommitted from this copy)
- Site map
- XII Australasian Convention Book. 22pp A4 format, 1.22MB download
Contents include:- Welcome
- Ideology of the committee
- Committee Members
- Disclaimer
- Acknowledgements
- Tokens/Convention Symbol
- Restrictions
- Public Access
- Facilities
- Administration/Committee
- First Aid
- State of the Movement
- Tavern
- Feasting
- Perki Kemaki
- Menu
- Competitions
- Archery
- Bardic
- Virulent Curse or Boasting
- Glima (Icelandic/Welsh) Wrestling
- Hnefatafl & Kubb
- Brewing - beer & ale; cider; perry & wine; mead
- Other Competitions - Armouring, Weaponry, Jewellery, Costuming, Woodwork, Leatherwork,
- Handicraft
- Workshops
- Timetable
- Guidelines for Combat
- Guidelines for Projectile Weapons
- Site map
- Conferention Review from Varangian Voice, issue 64. 4pp A4 format, 495KB download
- A photo essay from The International Routier Vol 19, No 2, Winter 2003. 9pp, A4, 5.4MB.
Herns Hill, Nagambie, VIC, 2005
- Conferention Money Box - A wrapper for a drink can to be used to save money for the conference. A light hearted attempt to deal with the usual price complaints that are made about all conferences. 1p A4 format, 5.7MB download
- XIII Convention Registration Form 1p A4 format, 37.1KB download
- The Convention Report, announcing the site selection, pricing and club plans from The International Routier Vol 20, No 2, Winter 2004. 1p, A4, 85.2KB.
- Preliminary Timetable from some time between August and October 2004. Most of the communications was done on Internet, with the site being taken down soon after the confence. As a consequence, much of the documentation for 2005 has been lost. This copy is taken from The International Routier, Vol 20 No 3, Spring 2004. 1p A4 format, 41.7KB download
- XIIIth Australasian Re-enactment Conferention Book Hernes Hill, Victoria 2005. 29pp A5 format, 898KB download
Contents include:- Participant Liability Release Form
- Welcome, etc.
- Map - general
- Map - Piazza area
- Information - General and Combat
- More Info - Facilities, Fires
- Need to find a Committee member?
- Notice Boards
- First Aid
- Time
- State of the Movement
- The Piazza Area
- Menu, General Food and Drink info
- Workshops
- Markets
- Kids at the Conferention
- Competition info and rules
- Archery
- Bardic
- Virulent Curse or Boasting
- Wrestling
- Games - Hnefatafl, Kubb & Knattlekir
- Brewing - beer & ale; mead; cider; wine
- Warcraft and Handcraft - Arms, Armour, Domestic items, Jewellery, Accessories, Clothing, Hand crafts
- Living History Encampment
- Guidelines for Combat
- Guidelines for Projectile Weapons
Dunghaven, NSW, 2007
- Conferention Reviews from Varangian Voice, issue 71. 6pp A4 format, 331KB download
- Another photo essay from The International Routier Vol 22, No 1, Autumn 2007. 8pp, A4, 4.06MB.
- The Routiers also documented the construction of a Seventeenth Century toilet at the conference site on their website. External link, 2.00MB
Castle Mountain, NSW 2009
- Official Publications
- Conference Flyer 1p, A4 format, 156KB download.
- Conference FAQ 1p, A4 format, 116KB download.
- Registration Form 1p, A4 format, 116KB download.
- Waiver 3pp, A4 format, 120KB download.
- The Committee 3pp, A4 format, 113KB download.
- Workshop Program 5pp, A4 format, 156KB download.
- Event Schedule 4pp, A4 format, 25KB download.
- Site Map 1p, A1 format, 180KB download.
- Tavern
- Tavern proposal 6pp, A4 format, 156KB download.
- Tavern Update, March 09 5pp, A4 format, 111KB download.
- Tavern Lunch Announcement 1p, A4 format, 42KB download.
- Tavern beer/wine/mead/cider list and bill of fare 4pp, A4 format, 116KB download.
- Tavern Licensed Area 1p, A4 format, 125KB download.
- Brewing Discussion Group
- Brewing Discussion Group notes 18pp, A4 format, 319KB download.
- Various Beer and Ale Recipes from the 16th and 17th centuries. 7pp, A4 format, 246KB download.
- Seventeenth Century recipes using Whisky. 3pp, A4 format, 125KB download.
- An 18th century book on brewing beers and ales with earlier application. The author was brewing in London around the end of the 17th century. 37pp, A4 format, 239KB download.
- Religous Observance
- Morning Prayer from the 1603 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. 6pp, A5 format, 170KB download.
- A copy of the Thieves' Sermon given at the service, dating from 1600. 1p, A4 format, 88.4KB download.
Danelaw, NSW 2011
Attendees were sent an information pack by email, containing:
- General site and event information. 9p, A4 format, 298KB
- Details of the encampments. 1p, A4 format, 8.99KB
- Driving directions to Danelaw from Canberra (2pp, A4, 124KB) and Sydney (2pp, A4, 59KB).
- A site map.
- Guidelines for combat derived from this site. (6pp, A4, 40.8KB)
- Registration Database Summary Report. (4pp, A4, 39.7KB)
- A description of Danelaw's Weapons Safety Training progression. (1p, A4, 39KB)
- Menus for all meals. (4pp, A4, 18.1KB)
- A draft programme (4pp, A4, 16.3KB) and information about the various activities. (4pp, A4, 25.3KB)
- Tournament Rules. (2pp, A4, 20.8KB)
- Official Publications
- Conference Website links to Danelaw's website.
Danelaw, NSW 2013
2013 nearly didn't happen. There were no volunteers at the end of the 2011 conferention, so in August 2011 Danelaw circulated this call for EOI on their website. When no group volunteered, Danelaw elected to run the 2013 conference. [Internet Archive wayback machine page]
- Official Publications
- Conference Website [via Internet Archive wayback machine]
Kurwongbah, QLD 2015
- 2015 Revisiting the Past — The Australian Historical Conference First Update. (1p, A4, 227KB)
- Event Invitation sent out by social media in October 2014. (1p, A4, 157KB)
Tarago, NSW 2017
2017 was the first conference run by a peak body, ALHF, rather than a committee of independants or a group.
- Official Publications
- Conference Website [via Internet Archive wayback machine]
- Much of the advertising and planning was done on a Facebook Event page