Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts facts for kids
| Established | 27 October 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Type | Museum library |
| Key holdings | Gould's Sketchbook of fishes |
| Collections | Georgian, Victorian, Australiana and Tasmanian history |
| Collection size | 11,000 |
| Founder | Henry Allport |
| Owner | Public |
The Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts is a special place in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It's like a museum and a library all in one! You can find it inside the State Library of Tasmania building. This museum holds one of the biggest collections of items from Tasmania's early days. It also has rare British and European art, furniture, and books. The Allport Library and Museum opened in 1972, and the best part is, it's free to visit!
Contents
Discovering the Allport Family History
The Allport family came to Tasmania in 1831. They were a respected family of lawyers from Britain. Joseph Allport was a key member of this family. He moved to Tasmania and settled in a place called Broadmarsh, Tasmania.
How the Museum Began
The last male descendant of the Allport family was Henry Allport. When he passed away in 1965, he left his family home in Sandy Bay. He also left his huge collection of family treasures and an amount of money. This money was meant to help the collection grow and to start a library.
In 1972, all these amazing items were moved. They went into a special, climate-controlled storage area. This area is located inside the State Library of Tasmania's tall building. The Allport Library and Museum officially opened on October 27, 1972. Lady Alexandra Hasluck, whose husband was the Governor-General, opened it.
Who Manages the Allport Library?
The Allport Library is looked after by Libraries Tasmania. A special committee helps manage it. This committee includes people who are experts in rare art and books. It also has representatives from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and the Department of Education Tasmania. This way, many different groups help make sure the library and museum are well cared for.
Exploring the Amazing Collections
The Allport Library has a very large and interesting collection. It includes many unique and important items. Imagine seeing about 2,000 photographs and 600 prints! There are also 70 oil paintings and 1,700 watercolours and drawings. The museum also has beautiful objects like 400 pieces of China, 125 pieces of glassware, and 350 silver items. You can also see 200 pieces of old Tasmanian furniture. Plus, there are six thousand books and other printed items!
Highlights of the Art Collection
Some of the special art pieces include a painting of John Glover by Mary Allport. You can also see some of the very first photographs ever taken in Tasmania. There's a collection of photos by John Watt Beattie. You'll find sketches by Thomas Bock.
One of the most famous items is William Buelow Gould's Sketchbook of fishes. This sketchbook is so important that UNESCO recognizes it as a document of world significance!
The museum also has many paintings and sketches by John Glover. Alongside these, you can see original watercolours by famous artists. These include Richard Parkes Bonington, John Sell Cotman, Peter De Wint, David Roberts, J. M. W. Turner, and John Varley.
Rare Porcelain and Books
Henry Allport's wife, Claudine, loved collecting beautiful British porcelain. Her collection is now part of the Allport Library. It includes a very old English porcelain jug from 1745. There are also four special plates from the Nantgarw China Works.
The collection also has many rare books. These books often focus on the history of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. One example is Louis de Freycinet's Voyage autour du monde (Voyage Around the World). You can also find many old papers and records from historic Tasmanian groups.
In 2014, the Library added Margaret Hope's collection. These are beautiful watercolours of Tasmanian wildflowers.
Visiting the Allport Collection
Most of the library's collection is kept safely in dark storage rooms. But a special part of the collection is on display. It's set up to look like the rooms of the Allport family home. These rooms are decorated with furniture from the 16th to 19th centuries. They also show art by family members and other artists from that time. There's also a changing art gallery next to this display. It shows both new and old art.
See also
Gallery of former exhibition at the Allport Library
