National Trust Tasmania launches campaign to bring BBC Antiques Roadshow to Tasmania

National Trust Tasmania is calling on Tasmanians to share photographs and stories of fascinating, unusual or much-loved historic objects, helping demonstrate the depth of Tasmania’s heritage, collections and family histories.

“We’re hoping to help bring the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow to Tasmania – and, ideally, have one of our National Trust properties featured as part of the filming,” Ms Fry said.

“To help make the case for Tasmania, we’re encouraging Tasmanians to share a special historic object and the story of their connection to it, and to send their stories to the BBC.”

Destination Southern Tasmania is supporting the campaign, recognising the opportunity it could provide to showcase Tasmania’s heritage places, communities and stories to an international audience.

DST CEO Alex Heroys said Tasmania’s heritage is an important part of what makes the island such a distinctive place to visit.

“An opportunity like Antiques Roadshow would allow us to share not only our beautiful historic places, but the fascinating people, objects and stories behind them with an international audience,” Mr Heroys said.

“It’s exactly the kind of exposure that can inspire people to explore more of Tasmania, stay longer and discover some of the heritage places and communities they might not otherwise encounter.”

Ms Fry said the campaign is not focused on the financial value of objects, but on the stories and connections behind them.

“It’s about the story, not just the value. Objects don’t need to be financially valuable or rare. We particularly want objects with a strong family, community or Tasmanian connection – and a great story behind them,” she said.

“Tasmania has an extraordinary concentration of heritage places, historic collections, family histories and objects that tell stories stretching across generations.”

National Trust Tasmania cares for a number of significant historic properties and collections around the state, providing potential settings for Tasmania’s objects and stories to be shared if the program were to visit.

Tasmanians can support the campaign by sharing a historic object, explaining its story and connection to them, and submitting their story to the BBC. Further information will be shared through National Trust Tasmania’s social media channels.