A medieval re-enactment group says a growing number of people are choosing to ditch the chaos of modern life and return to a simpler time.
Jim Hammond, who goes by the Viking name Grym Wyrmskegg (meaning serpent beard), is part of a medieval re-enactment group on the far north coast of New South Wales known as Rognvald's Lith.
He said the group started in 2003 with just three dedicated members, and has since grown year on year.
"From when I started it's grown massively," Mr Hammond said.
"Within a couple of years we had grown to 15 or so and now we're up to about 60, and that's just in our group alone."
Each year the group holds a Viking Village in the Lismore CBD during the winter solstice.
Mr Hammond said this year's event attracted more than 130 re-enactors from groups including Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Event organiser Jenny Creasy said she fell in love with re-enactment culture after visiting a medieval fair where she watched people do natural dyeing.
"I just fell in love with the whole idea of letting go of modern life and slowing down and creating things from scratch," she said.
"I always loved being in touch with nature, and this is just another way to do that."
Like most re-enactors, Ms Creasy has a speciality.
For her it is hand-weaving — but for others it can be anything from leather work to blacksmithing, wood crafting, cooking or soldiering.
Bringing history to life
The aim of events like the Viking Village, is to try to replicate, as closely as possible, what life would have been like during a particular time.
President of the Australasian Living History Federation Louise McNally said there had been about a 10 per cent increase in memberships in the last two years.
"I can't tell you why it's spiked right now, except it's a reflective growth level," she said.
"We've got a lot of exposure of period drama on television, at the movies, great works of literature being made into different forms of media.
"I think it will only increase from here."
Ms McNally said Australia's re-enactment groups spanned the decades, centuries and millennia past from the ancient world to the modern wars.
New England Medieval Arts Society member Lachlan Bishop said the battle re-enactment side of things had been a big drawcard.
"Now that we've got forges and armouries in Australia, it's a lot easier for us to get kit here," he said.
"[Since] it's a bit cheaper and more accessible, it's become a lot bigger."
Mr Bishop said being part of a re-enactment group was like stepping out of normal modern-day life.
"It's like taking a step back in time and you just enjoy it for what it is," he said.
"Technology wise, you see around us, there's not a phone in sight.
"It's just people trying to be in moment."
