Portrait of influential Tasmanian woman on its way home

A nineteenth century portrait of a notable Tasmanian woman, who helped to end convict transportation to Tasmania in the 1850s, will soon be on display in the historic Tasmanian property she once called home.

The portrait of Dorothea Pitcairn, painted in 1855 by artist Conway Weston Hart, was recently acquired by the National Trust of Tasmania with the assistance of the National Cultural Heritage Account.

Both Dorothea and her husband, Robert Pitcairn, were key figures in mid-nineteenth century Tasmanian society, known for their efforts to end convict transportation to Van Diemen’s Land (achieved in 1853) and the campaign for Responsible Government in Tasmania (achieved in 1856).

The Pitcairns built the historic house, Runnymede (originally Cairn Lodge) in Hobart, which is now managed by the National Trust of Australia (Tasmania). This portrait will be permanently on display at Runnymede, which will reopen to the public in September 2024.

The acquisition of this portrait was made possible with $35,000 in funding from the National Cultural Heritage Account, enabling the National Trust of Tasmania to enhance its collection of objects relating to influential women in Tasmania’s history.

The National Cultural Heritage Account provides support for Australian cultural organisations to acquire important pieces of Australian history to ensure they are kept in the country and enjoyed by the public. Organisations can apply for funding at any time.