The project, spurred by Tasmanian conceptual artist Christina Henri, set out to create a bonnet for each female convict sent to Australia.

They have been secured, with the help of a Meander Valley Council community grant, by the centre for May's Heritage Festival event.

Although they have only a small portion of the 25,500-odd collection, Ms Pryer said the display was now close to her heart.

She said she originally wanted to get involved to assist with the idea after reading about it in a magazine, and contacted Henri with a query.

"I just thought 'what a great idea', I wanted to be a part of it," Ms Pryer said.

"When I did the research I discovered that I did have a female convict ancestor and Christina sent me information about the female convict ships."

She said the bonnets were embroidered with a name on one side and the ship and year they arrived in on the other.

"The bonnets are all made to the same pattern, but you can embroider and embellish them as you wish," Ms Pryer said.

"We've only got them on exhibit for the month of May, but the memorial project has been going on for some years.

"I know a few ladies who are involved from the area, but I imagine there are probably more involved as well.

"It has been very well publicised over the years."

She said the bonnets already acted as a drawcard for the centre, and were perfectly paired with free entry for the Heritage Festival month.

"Come along and see the bonnets, read some stories, learn about our convict history, pick up a bonnet pattern and add your own voice to this memorial," Ms Pryer said.

"As a community we can offer moments of reflection, time out to contemplate the female convict story and to scrutinise our own value system, our levels of judgement, tolerance and acceptance towards others."