A beautiful red quilt that hints at life near Westbury at the turn of the 20th century is on display at the National Gallery of Victoria.
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The Westbury Quilt, stitched by the Hampson family between 1900 and 1903, depicts family and farm life near the Tasmanian town.
Heather Donaldson started researching the artwork several decades ago while founding the Westbury Irish Festival.
“It seems to have been made by at least two of the girls, and it seems Mary, the eldest, was probably the main one,” she said.
“It tells us a lot about that family and that community because it’s almost a snapshot of their life on a farm in a country town at the turn of the century.”
The quilt was on display at Fitzpatrick’s Inn at Westbury for several years following the death of the Hampsons. After the last Fitzpatrick sister died it found its way to the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
Making the Australian Quilt: 1800 – 1950 is on display at the National Gallery of Victoria until November 6.
