The Australian gold rush and Eureka Stockade. You don’t often associate these events with women.

Anastasia Withers was one of the first women on the Victorian goldfields. She was trusted by miners to keep their gold under her petticoats. In late November 1854 she is thought to have taken her scissors, some fine blue wool and white silk, and with Anne Duke and Anastasia Hayes, created the Flag of the Southern Cross or ‘Eureka Flag’, which remains a symbol of the battle for people’s rights.

This compelling exhibition by Anastasia’s great-great-granddaughter, artist Fiona Crawford, celebrates the life of this amazing woman. Anastasia’s journey and memories are explored through painting, printmaking, textiles and sculpture.