The Kingdom of Lochac is one of twenty "Kingdoms" or regions of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) - an international organization dedicated to researching and recreating aspects of the Middle Ages.
Comprising Australia, New Zealand and their Antarctic territories, it is made up of almost 40 local groups.
It is currently ruled by King Ariston Hegelochou and King Jochen Schwalbe.
The kingdom takes its name from a Dutch term for Australia dating from 1630.
General
The group has around 2000 members, and is one of Australia's oldest living history groups, having started in 1980. The Australasian branch includes Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica
History
The SCA in Australia was initiated with a local SCA-inspired group, The Society for the Current Middle Ages (SCMA) holding its first event in November 1980. The Sydney-based SCMA joined the U.S.-based SCA in 1981. In New Zealand, an SCA-based group first appeared in Christchurch in 1982. Other cities in both countries formed groups, but the New Zealand groups became part of the Kingdom of Caid (based in Southern California),
Local groups
The different branches of the group are known within the group by their SCA names; for instance Parramatta in Sydney is known as Stowe-on-the-Wowlde, the Blue Mountains is known as the Shire of Dismal Fogs, is the longest running medieval/living history event in Australia. It has grown to its current size at which 1000 people may attend. It is the largest SCA event in Australia, and is a de facto "National event".
Some SCA members were involved in the Crossroads Medieval Village near Yass, New South Wales, and in the past the Rowany Festival has been held there.
As it is held over Easter, Christians generally get together to hold a scheduled Easter Sunday mass. And if Pesach falls at the same time of year, there are often people cooking in accordance with the very special customs that relate to that.
Traditionally large battles involving SCA Heavy Combat are fought at Rowany Festival that may include up to 300 combatants. Medieval feasts are held by the households participating. A "merchants row", a street of merchants, runs for the whole weekend, as well as a Saturday only market. Typically, the merchants sell arts, crafts and off the peg armour.