Matthew Flinders: fearless in life, love and tragedy

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Portrait of Matthew Flinders c.1800, at the age of 26, miniature by an unknown artist. Collection of the State Library of NSW (MIN52) (left). Matthew Flinders' pocket style sundial and compass of turned ebony timber: Collection of Flinders University (Special Collections). Gift of The Family of the late Mr Alan Flinders Pilgrim, 2024. Photo: Sam Roberts (above). Coral necklace gifted by Matthew Flinders to his wife. Collection of Flinders University (Special Collections). Gift of The Family of the late Mr Alan Flinders Pilgrim, 2024. Photo: Sam Roberts (below).
Portrait of Matthew Flinders c.1800, at the age of 26, miniature by an unknown artist. Collection of the State Library of NSW (MIN52) (left). Matthew Flinders' pocket style sundial and compass of turned ebony timber: Collection of Flinders University (Special Collections). Gift of The Family of the late Mr Alan Flinders Pilgrim, 2024. Photo: Sam Roberts (above). Coral necklace gifted by Matthew Flinders to his wife. Collection of Flinders University (Special Collections). Gift of The Family of the late Mr Alan Flinders Pilgrim, 2024. Photo: Sam Roberts (below).

Details

Date & Time

Mon January 13 2025 - Fri February 14 2025, Monday–Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 11am–4pm, closed Sundays and public holidays

Location

Level One, Flinders University City Campus, Festival PlazaDirections

Links

Admission

Free

Explore the remarkable life and legacy of renowned explorer Matthew Flinders in this captivating exhibition at Flinders University City Campus. At its heart is Flinders’ original coffin plate, shown in Australia for the first time.

Unearthed during a 2019 archaeological dig at London’s Euston Station, the lead coffin plate—remarkably preserved—helped identify Flinders’ long-lost grave among 40,000 burials.

Reburied in Donington, Lincolnshire, in 2024 with a replica plate, it was gifted to the History Trust of South Australia and accepted on our behalf by the Governor of South Australia, Frances Adamson AC, by Flinders’ descendants, in recognition of his significant contribution to the state’s colonial history. The plate now resides in South Australia’s State History Collection.

Alongside the coffin plate are rare artefacts from the Flinders University Special Collections including Flinders’ ebony pocket compass, brass buttons from his naval jacket, and a first edition of A Voyage to Terra Australis, his monumental final publication featuring maps and illustrations.

Other treasures include a letter to his wife, a coral necklace gifted to his sister and a needlework sampler crafted by his great-niece Susanna Pilgrim aboard the Bolivar whilst en-route to Adelaide 175 years ago.

Presented by Flinders University in partnership with the History Trust of South Australia.

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