Anecdotes from the Archives

But what about the furniture? 

On 31 October this year, we mark the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the Presentation women in Tasmania. Although it would be another 14 months before they occupied their splendid new building in Harrington Street, have you ever wondered how they initially furnished such a large space, and whether their finances were in a state of flux?

Someone once told me that when the Sisters boarded the Empress in July 1866 to set sail for Sydney, they brought furniture, bedding and school supplies among their goods stowed on the ship. I cannot verify this story, but my guess is that it is true. They departed from Fermoy Convent in Ireland – Fermoy being a town at the epicentre of years of famine, so we can safely assume the Sisters did not have wealth behind them.

In fact, funds were desperately needed to complete the Hobart Convent and to furnish it. In 1867, this Grand Bazaar notice appeared in a Hobart newspaper:

Preparations for this large event continued over many months, and it was finally held in Del Sarte’s Rooms in lower Harrington Street, opening at 12 noon on 12 January. Soon after, it was attended by His Excellency the Governor, along with his wife and daughter. While the vice‑regal patronage of the Sisters drew criticism from some quarters, it was undoubtedly a feather in their cap – one that led to ongoing patronage and kindness for many decades to come.

The donations to the Bazaar were so plentiful that it continued selling for the next five days, with an exciting raffle drawn most evenings. There were nine stalls, along with a refreshment stall and even a post office.

What did they sell at a Bazaar in 1868? Among the items were a handsome ottoman in raised work, a pair of ottomans in wool work, a wax lampshade adorned with coloured flowers, beautifully dressed dolls – including a bride doll –smoking caps, wool mats, a finely crafted model of a fully rigged boat, beautifully worked cushions, and children’s toys and clothing. Notably, there was also a beautiful leather bracket made by the Presentation Sisters themselves.

A band entertained buyers in the evenings and at intervals throughout the event. The Bazaar appears to have been quite the social occasion in Hobart during that January week. The final takings – nearly 288 pounds – exceeded all expectations and must have given the Sisters great encouragement as they faced the many necessary purchases and building developments ahead.