Louisa Anne Meredith (1812-1895)

Early author, artist and botanist, who was the first woman to write a description of life in Tasmania

Louisa Anne Meredith (Twamley) was born in Birmingham in 1812. Despite her lack of formal education she had became an extremely competent writer, artist, botanist and naturalist by her teens. Her first book of poems, which she illustrated herself, was published when she was 20 years old.

In 1839 Louisa married and moved to Oyster Bay, Tasmania where she continued to write and paint. Notes and Sketches of New South Wales was published in 1844 and My Home in Tasmania in 1852. Louisa was an active participant in the production of plays, concerts and poetry readings in Hobart.

As an ardent conservationist Louisa lobbied to have an act of parliament passed to protect Tasmania's wildlife and also helped found the Tasmanian branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Her love of flora and fauna was clearly illustrated in her publications Tasmanian Friends and Foes, Feathered Furred and Finned, published in 1880 and Bush Friends in Tasmania, published in 1891.

Louisa was a prolific author with many and varied publications to her credit. Her remarkable collection of writing and painting give us a clear picture of the life of white Australian settlers spanning 50 years of the pioneer era of Tasmania.

In 1884, four years after the death of her husband, Louisa was awarded £100 per year by the British Government in recognition of her work in literature, art and science.

(Copyright Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet/Significant Tasmanian Women)