The Lady Franklin Gallery is a small but lovely survival from colonial Hobart: a Greek-revival temple-like building commissioned by Jane Franklin, wife of the Arctic explorer and Van Diemen’s Land governor Sir John Franklin. It was intended as a cultural institution for a young colony that wanted to look more learned than its convict reputation allowed.
Today it is run by the Art Society of Tasmania and usually hosts changing exhibitions rather than a grand permanent collection. The building is the main reason to go, especially if you are interested in Hobart’s colonial ambitions and the quieter corners of Lenah Valley.