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)