Dr Winifred CurtisThe grand lady of Tasmanian botany

Tasmanian Herbarium

The plants Winifred collected for teaching and research had identifications confirmed with collections held in the Tasmanian Herbarium. The Herbarium is currently located within the University's Sandy Bay Campus and is managed by Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery (TMAG). 

TMAG's Flora of Tasmanian Online refers to Winifred's Student's Flora of Tasmania as 'one of the main reference sources for the Tasmanina flora today'.

Winifred's work at The Herbarium

The Herbarium, which incorporated several important collections, was established by Leonard Rodway in 1928. After his death in 1936, the Herbarium remained in the care of his widow, Olive Rodway. Olive Rodway gave up this work in 1941, and the only attention that could then be afforded for the collection was that provided by Winifred as part-time Keeper on Saturday afternoons.

By this time the Herbarium had been moved to a wooden hut in the Botanical Gardens due to lack of space at the Museum. The wooden hut was located where the herb garden is now.

Herbarium, Bontanical Gardens

In 1946, the trustees of the Museum agreed to a request from Dr Gordon for the herbarium to move to the University as a permanent loan.

No special staff or help was provided and the curatorship of the Herbarium became an unofficial addition to Winifred’s duties. This led to her becoming a staunch supporter of the Herbarium and to argue strongly for its due recognition and needs. In the late 1940’s, the University moved to its present day Sandy Bay campus and the Herbarium occupied a draughty hut near the temporary hut that was the Department of Botany.

See more Tasmanian Herbarium, Atlas of Living Australia