Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Education and Training
The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts in Hobart is now home to an extraordinary collection of Bauldin sketches, valued at more than $1 million.
The collection of unique drawings were made on a visit to Bruny Island, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Maria Island in 1802 by the French expedition led by Baudin.
This donation is one of the most generous the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts has ever received.
John and Jacqui Mullen, from the Silentworld Foundation, made this generous donation after discovering the Allport Trust had acquired other works in the series earlier this year.
The sketches are of huge significance to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community, and make Tasmania’s Baudin collection one of the largest outside of the Museum of Natural History in Le Havre, France.
The historical, cultural and social importance of these works cannot be overestimated, as they reveal unique insights into Tasmanian Aboriginal culture prior to European settlement.
On behalf of the Hodgman majority Liberal Government, I sincerely thank John and Jacqui for their wonderful donation.
