QVMAG Frederick Strange exhibition shows Launceston in the 1800s

Born in 1807, Frederick Strange was transported to Van Diemen’s Land in 1838 after being charged with four counts of burglary.

After three years in Hobart Strange moved to Launceston, where he would go on to produce the vast majority of his work – predominantly painting landscapes, portraits and buildings. 

The Enigmatic Mr Strange exhibition showcases nearly fifty works, 39 of which are featured in a recently released 92-page catalogue of the same name.

Many pieces provide a fascinating insight into Launceston during the 1850s and ‘60s. 

“It’s one of the earliest records of streetscapes and buildings from that time so it’s incredibly important, and to have the images recorded in one catalogue is marvellous,” QVMAG publications coordinator Andrew Parsons said. 

“The panoramic views are really quite splendid, so you’ve got ones from Windmill Hill, but also capturing images of the early settlers is equally important.”

Featuring essays, vignettes and detailed captions, the catalogue marks the most extensive publication on Strange ever released.

“I’ve only ever previously found two journal articles, one in 1963 and one in 1947, and a very small exhibition catalogue from 1974 that had no images in it. 

“You could almost say that Frederick Strange is as enigmatic post-death as he was at the time of living, there’s very little on him.” 

Both the exhibition and catalogue were curated by QVMAG honorary research associate Yvonne Adkins.

Little is known for sure about the man behind the paintings, but plenty can be surmised from his work. 

“He seems to have particular places he likes to draw from,” Mrs Adkins said.

“He likes to be up on Windmill Hill, he likes to be up in West Launceston looking down on the river, he likes to be on Westbury Road and he likes to be in amongst the town.

“So you’ve got this image of this man wandering around doing these extraordinary little drawings.”

Fittingly, there’s also a happy ending to Strange’s story before his passing. 

“He does marry, but he marries when he’s quite old and marries a woman six or seven years older than him - she had been transported for stealing a blanket.

“She runs a small grocery shop and he helps her run it and then she buys some land in Campbell Town.

“1863 is the last known reference to any of his work and then he dies in their rented home in Charles Street in 1873 - but when he dies the funeral director announces ‘he is an artist’.”

The exhibition is open until November 5.