An event established to promote Scottish events and functions that take place in the Townsville region.

Held in conjunction with Cotters Market in Flinders Street and is part of the Townsville Tartan Weekend, starting Friday evening and going through to Sunday evening.

Clan buchanan presence is boisted by CBSI Queensland Regent and Tartan official Marie Gibson. Please contact her with any queries or to lend a hand

The story

In 1746, after the battle of culloden, the english government of the day decided to ban the wearing of any part of the highland dress as an attempt to break the clan system.  Wearing of the tartan or any other part of the traditional dress was punished by a six month jail sentence followed by swearing an oath; a second offence was rewarded by transportation for seven years to the colonies (america).

The terrible massacres ordered by the Duke of Cumberland (the Butcher) had failed to dampen the spirit of the Scottish nation and this ban was the next step in the subjugation of the proud nation.

This also failed and in 1782 on the first of July the government relented and the proscription was lifted.  At last, the Scot could again wear with pride his plaid and all that went with it.

In north america the scots celebrate the sixth of april as a combination of the Declaration of Arbroath and the wearing of tartan.  Elsewhere in the world we celebrate the two occasions on or about their relevant anniversaries.

The australian scottish community does encourage all people of scottish descent to wear their tartan on july 1 but to enable as many as possible to join in the celebration we have decided to have tartan day on the nearest sunday to the anniversary or another date more appropriate for the local community.