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November 10, 2014

Early Illawarra and Explorers exhibition

A restored edition of Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay from 1789 and two recently acquired 19th century Eugene von Guerard prints are currently on show at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Library.

Eugene von Guerard's 
Lake Illawarra, New South Wales, 
1866 - 68. 
UOW Archives Collection


The Early Illawarra and Explorers exhibition explores the history of the Illawarra through the sketches and writings by Indigenous groups, early European explorers and surveyors, scientists and artists.

UOW Director of Library Services Margie Jantti said such artefacts contribute to our overall knowledge of the region’s past, from the Aboriginal dreamtime to the end of the nineteenth century.

“The true, unadulterated beauty of the early Illawarra is showcased in this thoughtfully curated exhibition,” Ms Jantti said.

Eugene von Guerard's 
Cabbage tree forest, American Creek, New South Wales, 
1866 - 68. 
UOW Archives Collection

The exhibition, curated by UOW Library archivists and staff, includes items from the Library’s collections as well as pieces on loan from ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Art Gallery. A reproduction of the Tom Thumb boat used by Flinders and Bass to sail down the coast to Lake Illawarra in the 1790s originally recreated for Australia’s Bicentenary in 1988 is on loan from Holy Spirit College.

Emeritus Curator at the State Library of New South Wales, Paul Brunton, will deliver a keynote address at the exhibition’s opening on Wednesday November 12 at noon.

Throughout the exhibition, a series of topical presentations will be delivered in the Library’s Panizzi Room:

• Cartographic Confusion in 18th Century Illawarra with local historian Dr Joseph Davis (19 November);
• Aboriginal explorers with researcher Jade Kennedy, a member of the local Indigenous community (26 November);
• The Discovery of the Koala with Georgina Element, a conservator of cultural materials, and UOW Repository Services Manager, digital archivist and historian Michael Organ (3 December);
• Eugene von Guerard with Karen Manton, a PhD student at the Australian National ¾«¶«´«Ã½ (9 December);
• Book restoration with Barbara Schmelzer, a bookbinder specialising in conservation and repair (12 December).

An online version of the exhibition will be permanently available via the UOW Library Digital Collections Portal as a for those interested in local history and exploration.

Early Illawarra and Explorers
When: 10 November – 16 December, 9am to 5pm weekdays and 11am to 4pm Sundays
Where: Panizzi Room, UOW Library
Exhibition curators: Susan Jones, Michael Organ, Karen Illesca, Stephanie Drummond and Rebecca Daly.
More information:
Media contact: Karen Illesca, UOW Library Communications and Promotions Coordinator, 4221 3284 or Karen_illesca@uow.edu.au  

Speaker profiles

• Georgina Element is a conservator of cultural materials and assistant curator for the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Art collection. She is passionate about protecting and preserving the remaining cultural heritage and environment of her local area, Mt Kembla
• Jade Kennedy is a member of the local Aboriginal community and Research Fellow at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ of ¾«¶«´«Ã½
• Dr Joseph Davis is a local historian. Dr Davis has written extensively on the history of the Illawarra
• Karen Manton is a PhD student at the Australian National ¾«¶«´«Ã½. She is currently researching the life and art of Eugene von Guerard
• Michael Organ is UOW's Repository Services Manager
• Barbara Schmeltzer is a bookbinder, also specialising in conservation and repair. Barbara restored the Governor Phillip volume that will be on display in the exhibition