In 1998, the Tasmanian Qulting Guild Inc undertook a challenge as part of the 200-year anniversary, to produce a collection of quilts that depict what Bass and Flinders saw on their 1798 voyage circumnavigation in the Norfolk.
View our quilting exhibition upstairs alongside the Admiral, 1865.
The quilts traveled extensively as a suitcase exhibition before finding a permanent home in our museum.
Information on our quilters can be found below.
The wind was blowing out from the west...
Inspired by a TV news item in winter 1998 when the Mitchell Library, NSW, acquired at auction in London the letters written by George Bass to his family in England when he was exploring the Australian coastline. One letter to his mother describes the discovery of Bass Straits as 'a bay too big to be an estuary, it must be a strait... The wind was blowing from the west...'
Visions
Design inspired by images of Askraft Toile fabrics
Seaweed
Design inspired by bull kelp seen on Bruny Island, and the view from our home.
All At Sea
Design inspired by a painting by Brett Whiteley. Map design from an Italian map which Bass and Flinders would soon prove wrong.
Bass and Flinders visit to Port Dalrymple 3 Nov 1798
Design inspired by an old map, 1804, with details from Flinders's visit to Low Head and Port Dalrymple. Embellishments were made to depict 'what Bass and Flinders saw' through a telescope. Taken from Flinders journal.
Foot Steps
Design inspired by an article titled Bass and Flinders challenges the oceans in tiny boats.
King of the Island
Original by Maker.
SE Turning Point
Design inspired by Flinders log of the Norfolk which says 'Jan 3 1798 - Passed Cape Raoul and rounded Cape Pillar and Tasman Isle Jan 4 - Islands. Photos in books Tasmania by L.L Durrant and R. Bennet in Ocean Classics.
The unknown Coast
Design based on own ideas.
Friendly Faces
Design based on own ideas.
What Bass and Flinders Saw
Design taken from multiple sources in the Somerset Primary School Library
Tasmania, a Jewel in the Southern Ocean
Design based on own ideas observations, pride and love of Tassies beauties, the seasons, moods and special beauties of flora, fauna, and people.
Looking throughout the spyglass
Original design, seeing the green mountains and clear sky's that belong to Tasmania through the spyglass.
Bass Strait
Original design of waves on Bass Strait
The Norfolk Route
Design based on the track of the Norfolk between NSW and Van Diemen's Land explored by Matthew Flinders by order of HIs Excellency Governor Hunter 1798-9, available from the Launceston Community Museum.
Absolutely interesting place, I recommend the center