Furneaux Museum
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  • The Collection
    • Dryazell Cottage and Mrs Gray’s Room
    • Mutton-bird Processing Shed (1920s)
    • Whitemark Police Cells (1916)
    • Nissen Hut (1951)
    • Land Settlement Office (1950)
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    • Lonely Graves of the Furneaux Islands
    • A Bridge Across Time
    • Through the Lens
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    • The History of Music and Dance in the Furneaux Islands
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The Furneaux Museum is located on Flinders Island, one of the Furneaux Group of islands in eastern Bass Strait.

The course of Australia's early colonial history was influenced by events that occurred in the Furneaux Islands. The Sydney Cove shipwreck in 1797 led to a sealing 'rush' which resulted in the survival of Tasmania's indigenous population  - the descendants of sealers and their Aboriginal wives.  - and ultimately the discovery of Bass Strait.

At the Furneaux Museum you can learn about events and people that have shaped the islands, and understand how isolation brought about a resourcefulness and community spirit which still exist today. Pioneering life, the tradition of mutton-birding, dramatic shipwrecks, the ill-fated 1833-47 Tasmanian Aboriginal settlement at Wybalenna, post-war Soldier Settlement - it's all here.

Here's what our visitors say:

  • A great surprise!
  • Thoroughly interesting and enjoyable. Wish I had more than half a day. Highly recommended. (Albany Creek, Qld)
  • Congratulations to the volunteers who cared enough to mount this wonderful museum. (Melbourne, Vic)
  • Amazing history for all to absorb. (Rockhampton, Qld)
  • Best small museum we have ever visited - so well researched and documented. (Wollongong, NSW)
  • A lovely multi-faceted museum. (Claremont, Tas)

THE ESSENTIALS

Opening hours

26 December – 30 April
Tuesday to Sunday 1.00pm – 5.00pm
Closed Mondays & Good Friday

1 May – 24 December
Saturday & Sunday  1.00pm – 4.00pm
By appointment subject to availability of a volunteer. At least 48 hours notice required. Please text Linda 0418 345 989 or email furneauxmuseum@gmail.com

Admission $5.00

THE MUSEUM COLLECTION

The collection is displayed in five small historic buildings at the museum site at Emita. There are over 8,000 artefacts, photos and documents in the collection. Read more

Temporary exhibitions on particular themes are regularly staged in the Entry/reception building.

Current temporary exhibition
On show
26 Dec 2022 – 30 Apr 2023
Flying by the Seat of their Pants
Stories of the early planes and their daring pilots who pioneered Bass Strait aviation 1919-1939.

NEWS

Major exhibition
Furneaux Museum
26 Dec 2022 – 30 April 2023

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