Media Release
4 March 2026
The State Library and Archives of Tasmania is hosting a special event to celebrate the launch of a new Australia Post stamp collection inspired by artist William Buelow Gould’s detailed paintings of Tasmanian fish.
Date: Thursday 12 March 2026
Time: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Ground Floor, 91 Murray Street, Hobart
Find out more and book on Eventbrite.
As part of the celebration – which also marks the 25th anniversary of his internationally acclaimed novel Gould’s Book of Fish – renowned Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan will share how Gould’s artwork inspired his writing and speak about some of the adventures of the fish since publication.
Dr Hilary Maddocks, Australia Post Philatelic Researcher, will speak about the new stamp collection. Caitlin Sutton, Allport Librarian, will share little-known facts about Gould, his art and his experiences as a convict on Sarah Island penal station.
A highlight of the evening will be the display of the original Gould’s Sketchbook of Fishes. Added to the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register in 2011, it can also be viewed online and is held in the Allport Collection at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania.
The new Australia Post stamp collection celebrates Gould’s detailed illustrations, bringing these important works to life in a new and accessible form for collectors, art lovers and the wider community.
This event offers a unique chance to hear from one of Australia’s most celebrated authors and see a significant piece of national history on display.
Explore more convict stories like Gould’s, along with images from the convict era, in the State Library and Archives of Tasmania collection.
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