Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Historical note

Abstract

It is appropriate in this year 1966 when Volume One Hundred of the Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania is to he published that there should be some review of the development and growth of the State Museum in Tasmania. It should not be thought that though this island State was founded in 1803 when Lt. Bowen, with the ships "Ocean" and "Lady Nelson", formed a settlement at Risdon near Hobart, no Museum was opened until a much later date. Far is such a thought from the truth, for there is good reason to believe that as early as 1828, collections were being made with the thought in mind that when a Museum was actually opened, the collections would rest there. In truth we should say that a Museum was founded as early as 1828, for then the beginnings of collections of various kinds of animal and plant life had been started, catalogued and preserved.