The Unconformity


The Unconformity is an arts festival held in Queenstown, Tasmania in Australia.
Held on the West Coast, the festival is a biennial event. Elements of the festival capture a change in the fate of Western Tasmanian communities, where mining ventures and other industries are reduced and population declines, but where the heritage and legacy of the communities remains.

2012 event

The 2012 event included events and exhibitions which commemorated the centenary of the 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster, with enactments that echoed the events of 1912.
The West Coast Wilderness Railway was involved in the 2012 celebrations, with a re-enactment of transporting victims to the Queenstown cemetery.
Tasmanian artists have utilised old buildings and space in Queenstown for working with their artworks.
The Friday forum at the Queenstown RSL "North Lyell Mine Disaster Forum" included Geoffrey Blainey. The wide range of sponsors for the festival include local businesses such as the historic Empire Hotel.

2014 event

The event was held again in 2014.

2016 event

The festival changed its name to The Unconformity and was held on 14 and 16 October, with a substantial crowd at the opening events.
The grand finale of the festival is a football match on the Queenstown Oval.

2018 event

The second event with the new name was held in October 2018.