Launceston’s Brisbane Street is home to the proverbial ‘Brisbane Street Barons’. It is Launceston’s main street and the hub of the CBD. Like a number of streets in central Launceston Brisbane Street’s residential properties are circa 1890s to 1930s. It is unsurprising to find that at various locations along the street shell necklaces were once traded. A curio shop, jewellery shop and tobacconist among others figure in anecdotal reports of “shell necklaces being on sale” – particularly in the 1930s,40s & 50s.
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George Burrows purchased a collection of shell necklaces from an auction in Launceston 1978/79. It has been suggested that the necklaces "were made by Miss Stewart" whose property was being dispersed at the estate clearance sale. 'Miss Stewart' had a jewellery shop on Brisbane St.
These necklaces are now a part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's collection in Hobart. It is doubtful that 'Miss Stewart' did in fact make the necklaces. On the balance of probability, and the circumstantial evidence, she may well have been a part of the trade in shell necklaces made by Tasmanian Aboriginal women on Bass Strait's Furneaux Islands. She may have also been involved in restringing necklaces made by these women – one necklace in the Burrows Collection seems to suggest this.
The necklaces in the George Burrows shell necklace collection now held by the TMAG are typical of the necklaces that included maireener and other shells that were produced by Aboriginal women on Cape Barren and Flinders Islands in Bass Strait.
There is more to this story so watch this space for developments and if you have any information please leave a comment OR contact the network via Email: shellnecklaces@7250.net
These necklaces are now a part of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's collection in Hobart. It is doubtful that 'Miss Stewart' did in fact make the necklaces. On the balance of probability, and the circumstantial evidence, she may well have been a part of the trade in shell necklaces made by Tasmanian Aboriginal women on Bass Strait's Furneaux Islands. She may have also been involved in restringing necklaces made by these women – one necklace in the Burrows Collection seems to suggest this.
The necklaces in the George Burrows shell necklace collection now held by the TMAG are typical of the necklaces that included maireener and other shells that were produced by Aboriginal women on Cape Barren and Flinders Islands in Bass Strait.
There is more to this story so watch this space for developments and if you have any information please leave a comment OR contact the network via Email: shellnecklaces@7250.net
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