Dear Dahlia

Celebrating the Dahlia Festival 1955-1999

11 February 2023 – 20 May 2023
Upper Gallery

Dear Dahlia is an exhibition celebrating the historic Devonport Dahlia Festival which took place annually over a 44-year period. The core of this exhibition is made up of selected photographs from the Robinson Collection of Negatives alongside program ephemera and coloured slides from the Bass Strait Maritime Centre, Richmond Collection, and information from people who were involved with the festival.

The exhibition showcases the nostalgic imagery of Devonport’s vibrant community spirit, representing the joy that surrounded the Dahlia Festival and its much-anticipated events. Inspired by the historic parade floats, Dear Dahlia includes a small-scale replica flower installation co-created with the local community. Throughout the duration of the exhibition the public are invited to share memories, stories, and information of the festival for preserving the important social history of this once vibrant event to share with generations to come.

Curated by Erin Linhart

Image: Albert Robinson, Dahlia Festival – Mardi Gras and floats, 1958, DCC Permanent Collection, R12183.H