On this page...


Christmas Bells, Milkmaid, Everlasting Daisy and Tea-Tree specimens
Christmas Bells, Milkmaid, Everlasting Daisy and Tea-Tree specimens Photographer: © Australian Museum Image: Australian Museum
© Australian Museum

About the Helena Scott Botanical Collection

During the 1860's Helena Scott created a botanical collection representing the flora of Sydney, Ash Island and Newcastle. She collected and prepared around 250 specimens that were carefully identified, dried, and pressed between the pages of a hand-sewn book made from the pages of the Sydney Morning Herald.

Most of the plants preserved by Helena were labeled with their botanical names of the time. It is thought that these specimens may have been host to Lepidoptera and used as references for the illustrations Helena and her sister Harriet created for their father, A W Scott, some of which were published in Australian Lepidoptera and their Transformations.

To look at more of Helena's collection see related items.