Bravo Tasmania! A Tasmanian Nightingale Remembered

'Amidst a storm of applause the cry went up ‘Bravo Tasmania!’'.

Before Dame Nellie Melba reached international fame as an opera singer, a girl from the Huon Valley had already captivated audiences around the world.

Amy Sherwin was born near Judbury in 1855 and was ‘discovered’ by a visiting Italian opera company as she sang by the banks of the Huon River.

A few weeks after she left the Huon she made a tumultuous appearance at the Melbourne Opera House.

She went on to enchant audiences with her voice at venues around the world including London’s Convent Gardens, Chicago, Cincinnati and Calcutta

Her outstanding success saw her become known as 'The Tasmanian Nightingale'.

Finally, she is getting the recognition she deserves as a group of prominent Tasmanians have gathered to bring her back into awareness.

The State Library and Archives of Tasmania holds a number of items about Amy Sherwin, and these will be on display.

The lunchtime talk will feature former Australian senator and Amy Sherwin champion Bob Brown, and the curator of the Hadley’s Art Prize, Amy Jackett.

This in-person event will also be available online. Please book a seat for the in-person event using the Get tickets button on this page, or use for the livestream.

By registering for a Libraries Tasmania event, you agree to follow our policies.

Thank you for helping keep our spaces safe and respectful for everyone.

Host or Publisher State Library and Archive Service