JASA
The Jane Austen Society of Australia Inc.
250 Glorious Years: Jane Austen’s Legacy
2025 Weekend Conference
JASA is delighted to invite members and other Jane Austen fans to our special 250th Anniversary weekend conference.
Date
Join us for all or part of the weekend.
Friday 31 October – Sunday 2 November 2025
Location
This year, we have a new location with much better conference facilities.
What to expect
Some fabulous international and local speakers are coming to instruct, enlighten and entertain us. See our Programme below.
We have a fascinating line-up of talks across the weekend. You have the choice of attending the full event, which commences with dinner on Friday evening and continues until lunchtime on Sunday, or joining us just for Saturday, or for Saturday and Sunday. There is a package to suit your availability and wallet.
This year, our Saturday evening dinner will also include an entertaining demonstration of Regency dancing provided by Historic Dance Delights. (Your regency dress is welcome, but not required.)
The JASA Weekend Conference is a lovely opportunity to get to know other members and make new friends while delving into Jane Austen’s rich and superb novels.
Programme
Interesting topics presented by distinguished speakers. Learn more about the speakers and their topics here.
Wild for Austen .. Jane Austen’s often unacknowledged ‘wild side’ (Dr Devoney Looser, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University)
Transmitted or transformed? .. The legacy of Jane Austen’s novels in Norwegian translation (Dr Marie Nedregotten Sørbø, Professor of English Literature at Volda University College, Norway)
Jane Austen and the Future of the Humanities .. A project using Austen’s work to showcase the importance of the humanities to diverse public audiences (Dr Michael Kramp, Professor of English at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania)
Reading Jane Austen in America .. Some exciting new discoveries about Jane Austen’s early publication and reception in North America (Dr Juliette Wells, Professor of Literary Studies at Goucher College, Maryland)
Jane Austen and the Romantics .. (Dr William Christie, Professor Emeritus at Australian National University)
Glorious irony: Jane Austen’s legacy of critical perspectives on the world of women .. Including comparisons between selected novels and their screen versions (Dr Marie Nedregotten Sørbø)
Body and Mind in Jane Austen .. How Georgian views of healthy activities relate to present-day scientific understandings (Dr Juliette Wells)
Almost Pride and Prejudice .. Some film versions of Pride and Prejudice that never happened (Dr Devoney Looser)
Packages
You can attend the conference at the times that suit you. Some of our packages include meals, some do not. Please read each package carefully to select your preference.
Package 1: Full Weekend INCLUDING Friday dinner
Includes attendance at all conference sessions and evening entertainment, plus the following meals: Friday dinner; Saturday morning tea, lunch, and dinner; Sunday morning tea and lunch.
Cost: Members $335; Non-members $360
Package 2: Full Weekend WITHOUT Friday dinner
Includes attendance at all conference sessions and Saturday evening entertainment, plus the following meals: Saturday morning tea, lunch, and dinner; Sunday morning tea and lunch.
Cost: Members $280; Non-members $305
Package 3: Saturday and Sunday Day
Includes attendance at all conference sessions (excluding evening entertainment), plus the following meals: morning tea and lunch both days, but NOT Saturday dinner.
Cost: Members $215; Non-members $240
Package 4: Saturday Day and Evening
Includes attendance at conference sessions on Saturday only, including evening entertainment, plus the following meals: Saturday morning tea, lunch and dinner.
Cost: Members $255; Non-members $280
Package 5: Saturday Day
Includes attendance at conference sessions on Saturday (excluding evening entertainment), plus the following meals: Saturday morning tea and lunch, but NOT dinner.
Cost: Members $200; Non-members $225
You are responsible for booking your accommodation – it is NOT included in the conference registration. Below are details of accommodation options. Please book using the link below for the discounted rate to automatically be applied. You can also phone the hotel to book, but don’t forget to ask for the discounted rate. Surcharges may apply to credit card payments.
Canberra Rex Hotel, 150 Northbourne Ave, Braddon ACT 2612
Phone: 02 6248 5311
Email: reservations@canberrarexhotel.com.au
The Rex offers a selection of different discounted rate options. Please make a choice when you book:
• Early Bird Rate (25% off, non-refundable, book at least 30 days out)
• Early Bird Rate with Breakfast (25% off + breakfast, non-refundable, book at least 30 days out)
• Accommodation Only Rate (15% off, flexible cancellation)
• Accommodation Rate with Breakfast (15% off + breakfast, flexible cancellation)
You must book directly with the hotel to get the discount rate. Please follow these steps online, or book by phone:
1. Use this link to go to the Canberra Rex Hotel website. The special discount rate is automatically applied.
2. Select the number of people and rooms in the box at the top of the page.
3. Use the calendar to select the dates you wish to book (Friday 31 October – Sunday 2 November), then click the APPLY button.
4. A page with room choices should appear; use this to select the type of room you want.
5. Click the CHECKOUT button to pay for your accommodation and complete your booking.
Please phone the hotel if you have trouble booking online. Parking and Wi-Fi are included.
Alternative accommodation
There are also many other accommodation options in the area.
Bookings
To register and have your booking for the JASA 2025 Weekend Conference confirmed, you will need to:
1. Return a registration form with your personal details, package choice, and dietary requirements. Choose one method:
— Use this online form here.
— Download this printable form. Complete and return it by post
2. Make your payment. Details are here.
3. Book your accommodation if you need it. Our suggestions are here.
Conference registration closes on 7 October 2025 (or earlier if capacity is reached).
Payment
Payment can be made by direct deposit or cheque using these details. It is essential that all payments include your name as reference so we can match it with your registration form. Please remember that accommodation must be booked and paid for separately.
Direct deposit
Account name: Jane Austen Society of Australia Inc.
Bank: St George Bank Ltd BSB: 112-879
Account number: 156156319
Cheque
Mail to Elizabeth Budge, JASA Treasurer, 21 Galston Crescent, Leura NSW 2780
Online registration
You can register your attendance and select your package online using this form. Up to 4 people can be registered at a time using this form. If you are registering more than that number, please just complete it more than once. Payment must be made separately via one of the methods listed above, and you also must book accommodation separately.
Please complete and submit this form.
Please use this form to request help or more information.