Saturday, April 18 will see Greece’s independence celebrated with a special lecture series to be held at Australia’s National Museum in Canberra. The event has been organised by the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Australia. All are welcome to attend.
The event will be held on the bicentenary of the exodus of Messolonghi (10-11 April 1826) with the theme of Messolonghi – The Road to Freedom: History, Art and Philhellenism. The event will provide a forum for two keynote presentations on the significance of the Greek revolution.
His Excellency Mr Stavros Venizelos, the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, will provide an introductory address, followed by presentations by Dr Spiridoula Demetriou and the historian Jim Claven OAM.
Ambassador Venizelos has organised this event to enhance awareness of the important story of Greece’s independence in Australia’s capital by holding it in one of nation’s most prestigious cultural institutions.
“I believe that the National Museum is the perfect location for this event. The long and strong connections between Greece and Australia, both in terms of the links between our peoples but also in terms of the rich cultural links between our two nations, merit bringing this event to this important national cultural venue,” Ambassador Venizelos said.
Dr Demetriou will deliver her presentation on the exodus of Messolonghi of 1826, whose bicentenary is currently being commemorated with a special exhibition at the Benaki Museum in Athens entitled “MISSOLONGHI 1826: 200 YEARS SINCE THE EXDOUS”. The exhibition featured approximately 200 works which demonstrated the important role of the exodus in strengthening support for the revolution and the rise of Philhellenism.
Dr Demetriou, whose academic doctorate researched Messolonghi and Philhellene art, was co-curator of this important exhibition. She is also a Board Member of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria.
The presentation by historian Jim Claven OAM will address some of the Australian connections to the Greek Revolution through the 1827 battle of Navarino.
A Masters graduate from Melbourne’s Monash University, Mr Claven has been researching the Hellenic link to Australia’s Anzac story, as well as various other aspects of Hellenic culture, for many years. He is the author of Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed. He was awarded the Order of Australia medal for services to veterans and community history.
Ambassador Venizelos stated that he was proud to be able to bring together two eminent speakers to present on these important elements of Greece’s fight for independence.
The event will commence at 2.30pm on Saturday 18th April and be held in the Peninsula Room, National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Canberra.
Those wishing to attend should RSVP to gremb.can@mfa.gr by 13 April 2026.
