About the Shire of Adora

Heraldry

Arms of the Shire of Adora

The Shire’s device is Per pale gules and or, two dragons combatant above a laurel wreath all counter-changed.

The dragons were inspired by the Port Kembla Steelworks, whose steam and smoke is visible from the Illawarra Escarpment. The red and gold dragons of Adora have been fondly named by members of the Shire as “Frank” and “Daffyd”.

 

Geography

Adora, seen from Sublime Point
Adora, seen from Sublime Point

The Shire of Adora covers the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from the base of the Sutherland and Macarthur regions as far the Victorian border. The Shire has members throughout the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla regions. The Shire is bordered to the North by the Barony of Rowany, and to the West by the Canton of Okewaite, the Barony of Politarchopolis, and the Shire of Bordescros. To the South is the Barony of Krae Glas, and to the East is the beautiful Tasman Sea.

History

The first SCA group in the area was the College of St Malachy, which was first mooted at Rowany Festival AS XXXI (1997). A few months later, SCA members held a demonstration at the University of Wollongong that drew approximately thirty members to the newly-formed College. The College’s first event was subsequently held on 7th August 1997 at the University of Wollongong (Wollongong Campus).

The College was sponsored by the Shire of Agaricus. Agaricus consequently assumed responsibility for the greater Wollongong area, in which the College was located. Over time, the expanded Shire attracted members all the way from Wollongong to Jervis Bay.

At Rowany Festival AS XXXVIII (2004), a proposal was made to split Agaricus into its northern and southern parts. The subsequent poll in June 2004 overwhelmingly favoured the creation of a new shire covering the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions. The Shire of Agaricus continued to serve the south-western Sydney area until it was officially closed in 2014, and the lands of Agaricus were divided once more between the Shire of Adora and its neighbours.

The proposed Shire’s initial officer handover occurred at the Feast of St Malachy on 25th September 2004. The first event of the new Shire, the Feast of the Four Winds, was held on the 13th November 2004. The Feast of the Four Winds has been held most years since, with a few variations due to hosting Lochac’s November Crown event in 2012, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The name Colles Ardorum was chosen by a poll in July 2004, being Latin for hills of flame or hills of passion, and inspired by the Illawarra Escarpment and the Illawarra Flame Tree. In January 2007, however, the College of Heralds determined that the name Colles Ardorum could not be accepted, as it is not a meaningful Latin place name.

The Shire's petition to Their Royal Majesties, Berenger and Bethan.
The Shire’s petition to Their Royal Majesties, Berenger and Bethan, AS XLIII (note the typo on the scroll!).

A new poll undertaken on 2nd April 2007 chose the name Adora, which had been suggested as an acceptable sound-alike to Ardorum, and is a biblical-era name used for the Palestinian town now known as Dura. The runner up in the poll, which was had been leading the poll before allocation of preferences, was the Welsh name Caerleon-yn-Arfor, meaning “Fort of the Legion by the Sea”.

The first event of that was held in the Shire after its new and current name had been accepted by the college of Heralds was the Flametree Ball on 24th May 2008. The Flametree Ball has been held each year in May since 1999 (when it was sponsored by the College of St Malachy), except for the years of COVID-19. In subsequent years, Adora has held other events such as Cold War and the monthly event known as “Omnia”, both held at the Guides Camp in the escarpment above Wollongong, as well as the Tournament by the Sea which was held near Bateman’s Bay. Please contact the Seneschal or see the Events page for these and other upcoming events for the Shire of Adora and other nearby medieval re-enactment groups.

Shire Seneschals

Seneschals of the Proposed Shire of Colles Adorum

  1. Lady Zanobia Adimari
  2. Adam the Renegade
  3. Lady Artemisia da Quieto d’Arzenta

Seneschals of the Shire of Adora

  1. Lady Artemisia da Quieto d’Arzenta
  2. Lady Gabrielle de la Riviere
  3. Lady Alessandra Dellamorot
  4. Lord Maelgwn of Adora
  5. Lord Simeon Wallace
  6. Lord Falkon of Adora
  7. Lord Titus Flavius Marcellus
  8. Aethelflæd of the Wild Seas
  9. Lady Gwenhwyfar ferch Elena
  10. Hauptmann Jochen Schwalbe

Current Seneschal

  1. Lord Maelgwn of Adora (acting)