The history of the Woolmers Estate has quite literally been brought out of the dark and into light with a new convict exhibition.
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Transportation to Trade - Woolmers Convicts at Work showcases never before seen objects that were part of a convicts daily life and work at Woolmers, and is the first exhibition in the Hidden Objects collection.
Hidden Objects will focus on the Archer family's - who occupied Woolmers - possessions dating from 1817 to 1994, with many 'hidden' stories amongst the objects to be shared.
The collections team dug up special items from the attics, cupboards, and boxes that were left untouched for 20 years.
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The objects were cleaned, conserved and then put on display - under a low light to protect them from damage - to create the Transportation to Trade - Woolmers Convicts at Work exhibition.
Woolmers collections team member Katrina Farley said the exhibition was exciting for them on two levels - first for the fact the objects had never been seen by the public, and second for how they highlighted Woolmers convicts.
"The convict story at Woolmers has not been focused on in any real depth," she said.
"Whilst most of the remaining buildings on site are convict built, the lives and stories of the assigned convicts passing through the estate has been largely ignored.
"Our convicts have a very different story to tell, one of positivity, learning new skills, gaining their freedom and going out into society as individuals and making a positive contribution to the new colony."
Ms Farley said the convicts were assigned to work for Thomas Archer the First after being forced to go to Van Diemen's Land because they had committed a crime.
"It is a positive relationship between our assigned convicts and Thomas Archer the First ... [which is] not something that happened much," she said.
The current exhibition only took four weeks to put together due to the chosen objects being fully adapted to light already.
However, some items are still undergoing a transition to ease them slowly into the light after being in the dark.
The Estate has convict tours that run four days a week for those who wish to learn more.
Woolmers also has various volunteer positions available and Ms Farley encouraged people to apply via woolmers.com.au.