Canberra Tales

About this event

Step into the hidden history of the Inner North this spring! PT. Gallery invites you to the spectacular debut of Canberra Tales, an enchanting monthly storytelling series celebrating our city's vibrant cultural heritage and the deeply inspiring personal journeys that shape it. Officially featured in the iconic Floriade 2026 program, this inaugural evening brings local history alive through an artistic, community-focused lens. Beautifully curated by Bohemian artist and curator Petra Jungmanova, our launch event features lifelong resident William Maloney as he uncovers the fascinating, forgotten secrets of Poppyfield Commons and the surrounding Dickson area. Travel back in time to discover the Inner North's unique wartime and agricultural roots. At the heart of our story is the old Dickson Experiment Station—a site once secretly used by the CSIRO during World War II to cultivate opium poppies, providing critical, life-saving pain medication to frontline troops. Canberra Tales beautifully bridges this historical "poppy field" legacy with the breathtaking, blooming floral celebrations of Floriade today. Come for the history, stay for the human connection, and experience Canberra like never before. Event Snapshot • 📍 Where: Poppyfield Commons, Dickson • 🗓️ When: Monday, 21 September 2026 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm • 🌸 Festival: Official Floriade 2026 Community Event • 🎟️ Admission: Free entry—all welcome! Why You Can’t Miss It • ✨ The Series Premiere: Be part of the very first chapter of a brand-new monthly cultural tradition. • 🌿 Untold WWII History: Hear the gripping true stories behind Dickson's secret wartime medical fields. • 🎨 Art Meets Heritage: Enjoy a beautifully curated atmosphere that celebrates local community identity, resilience, and storytelling.