66th Australian National Square Dance Convention
Hobart City Hall, 30th April to 4th May 2026
(This is a 5 day Convention)
Celebrating 50 Years of National Square Dance Conventions in Tasmania, Australia
Celebrating 50 Years of National Square Dance Conventions in Tasmania, Australia
66th ANSDC – February Newsletter
Oh, golly gosh, as of 26 February it is 63 sleeps to go until the Trail in Dance at the 66th Australian National Square Dance Convention.
At the moment we have 468 registrations. Registration packages will be available for collection between 2 and 4 pm on Thursday 30th April or after 7 pm at the Hobart City Hall, Macquarie Street, Hobart.
Due to the cost of postage etc. registration packs will not be posted to delegates.
Remember that Monday 4th May is our “S” night so please join us by dressing up. It will be such a fun night, and I can’t wait to see the array of costumes.
Don’t forget that the 66th ANSDC app is available to download. It has lots of information on it and is regularly updated.
Technology is amazing. If you have anything wrong with an email address – like a dot in the wrong place – it gets rejected and sent back to the sender – so I have tried really hard to make sure that everyone’s email addresses are correct but somehow there are still some emails not getting through and are being sent back to me.
Anyway, if you know anyone who should be getting our newsletters and haven’t received them, please let me know and I’ll try to get them sorted.
All newsletters are put on the app as well as the website.
If your club has registered a dressed set and hasn’t received an email correspondence or you need to register one, please email ‘admin@2026.ansdc.au’.
Did you know:
That Tasmania has Australia’s highest sea cliffs. They are at Turrakana/Tasman Peninsula. They are over 300 metres high?
Did you know:
That Tasmania has Australia’s wildest Big Wave Surf. That is at Shipstern Bluff on the Tasman Peninsula?
Did you know:
That Tasmania has the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial. That is the Tasmanian Devil?
Did you know:
That Tasmania has the world’s Oldest Living Plant Species.
That is Lomatia tasmanica (Kings holly) which is believed to be 43,000 years old?
Till next time
Kaye
66th ANSDC Up-date
16th January 2026
2026 is here!!! The National Convention is happening soon.
As of Friday 16 January, it is 104 sleeps to go until the Trail in Dance.
We have 461 registrations, including 2 from USA, 2 from Canada and 12 from New Zealand.
The excitement is mounting.
On Monday the committee did an inspection of the Hobart City Hall to finalize the placement of stalls, tea/coffee area, flags, banners and all the necessary things for our convention. Everything is coming together.
Our second hall is the Hobart Town Hall. It is a historic sandstone landmark serving
as the seat of Hobart’s local government, hosting council meetings, public events like balls and concerts in its grand ballroom. Guided tours are offered of its ornate interior and ‘underground’ spaces, featuring heritage elements like the Town Hall organ.
The Town Hall was designed by Henry Hunter and built from local sandstone.
It was opened in 1866.
For people who want to delve into the historic part of Hobart there are a lot of things to see and do.
You could join a Takara Nipaluna Walking Tour, walk around Salamanca Place, which has Art Galleries, restaurants, shops and cafes, and explore the area including Kelly’s Steps and Arthurs Circus and Battery Point.
Hobart is the second oldest city in Australia, as it was founded as part of a penal
colony in 1804.
If you want to go further afield the Cascades area in South Hobart is a great place to visit.
The Cascades is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site and historic brewery.
You may even see a platypus in the nearby Hobart Rivulet.
Check out the Cascade Brewery, which was established in 1824 and is the oldest continually operating brewery.
Mount Wellington is the beautiful backdrop. There are tours available at the brewery. Cascade makes a few different beers and apple cider as well as non-alcoholic drinks.
They have a lovely dining room and beer garden.
You can also visit the Cascade Female Factory which is also a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and Museum.
The Female Factory was where female convicts were sent from Britain and Ireland during the early 19 th Century.
Don’t forget to check hobarttravelcentre.com.au on the net or visit the Tasmanian
Travel and Information Centre located in Davey Street.
They have some great ideas about places to see and things to do. It’s certainly worth visiting.
Remember our ‘S’ Theme Night is on Monday 4 May.
What are you going to dress up as? Smurf, Smurfette, Saint, Sinner, Spider, Sheik, Spy, Shrek, Star, Skeleton, Shark, Sleuth, Security Guard, Soldier, Scout, Sign.
Until next time
Kaye
December 1st 2025
66th ANSDC Up-date
Here we are with the Christmas Season upon us. Gee, I feel that this year has flown. As of December 1st, it’s 150 sleeps until our Trail In Dance.
Our main venue, the Hobart City Hall, was constructed between 1914 and 1915.
It was built on the site of the old council market and serves as a public auditorium and venue. It has been used for a wide range of activities, including theatre, boxing, wrestling, fairs and dances. It was used by the army for storage in 1940.
It also hosted Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh for a State Reception in 1954. The interior features tiered mezzanine seating, hardwood floors and an impressive pressed-tin roof. Recent renovations have focused on updating the hall while respecting the original design, including replacing the floor with Tasmanian oak.
There is ample accommodation within walking distance of the City Hall so there is no need to hire a car for the duration of the Convention.
There is also a variety of eateries near the City Hall – ranging from Japanese, Italian, Indian, Chinese and seafood restaurants. There is also a Woolworths supermarket and a chemist nearby.
Constitution Dock is a short walk from the City Hall. It is where the yachts dock after the finish of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Nearby is Salamanca Place where old sandstone warehouses host galleries and cafes. It is also the location of Salamanca Market which is held every Saturday.
The city’s backdrop is kunanyi/Mount Wellington with sweeping views.
The view from the top is amazing A MUST see.
As of December 1st, we have 445 Registrations, which includes 39 Callers, 17 Round Dance Cuers and 4 Clogging Cuers.
The National Convention App is now available to download. Just go to the App Store or Play Store and search for 66th ANSDC.
It has the Draft Programme in ‘At A Glance’ and a list of Callers and Cuers plus other important information.
The App will be updated regularly.
The committee of the 66th Australian National Square Dance Convention would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Until next time
Kaye
November 25th 2025
The “Mobile App” for the 2026 Australian National Square Dance Convention
Is now available from In both the App Store and Play Store
Just search for 66th ANSDC (doesn’t need to be in capitals) on your device.
Or use the links below:
November 19th 2025
Registrations so far:-
Dancers 398
Callers 34
RD Cuers 14
Clogging Cuers 4
This information is relevant as at todays date.
We have recieved some additional caller/cuer registrations which wiiil be added soon
Caller / Cuer Registrations close on the 30th November 2025
October 16th 2025
The countdown is certainly on. As of the 16th of October 2025, we have 403 Registrations. There are 196 more sleeps until our Trail -in Dance.
There is lots to see around the Hobart area so if you need a few suggestions, we should be able to help. A great Website to check out is: hobarttravelcentre.com.au. The Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre have helped us out by providing lots of brochures that we took to Morayfield.
Salamanca Market is, in my opinion, the best market in Australia. (Maybe I am a little biased) They operate every Saturday morning. – Certainly, worth a visit.
There is an enormous amount of accommodation within walking distance of Hobart City Hall.
The Old Woolstore, Hadley’s Hotel, Hotel Collins, Grand Chancellor, Hobart Central Youth Hostel, Savoy Hotel, 105 Mac Unique Apartments, Vide Hotel and Backpackers Imperial Hotel are the closest.
I hope everyone has their thinking caps on for our Theme Night “S”.
Here’s a few ideas: Surfer, Superman, Scotsman, Scooby Doo, Stitch, Spider, Snow White, Spanish Dancer, Sailor, Soldier, Skeleton, Storm Trooper.
For those who haven’t registered yet, do it before the end of November because on the 1st of December the cost will be $150 per delegate.
If you have any enquiries or if we can help at all please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Well, until next time.
See ya
August 26th 2025
The Theme for our dress up night is the letter “S”.
Please visit our Theme page for some ideas
July 13th 2025
The Committee of the 66th Australian National Square Dance Convention is pleased to announce that we have received in excess of 300 registrations so far.
Was one of these yours?
If not we would love to hear from you.