In 1965 Henry Allport (1890-1965), a Hobart lawyer, bequeathed to the people of Tasmania his valuable collection of books, pictorial material, ceramics, silverware, glassware, and furniture. He directed that it be called the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts as a memorial to the Allport family, who had played an important part in the cultural life of Tasmania for more than a hundred and thirty years. ;;The Tasmanian branch of the Allport family was established by Joseph and Mary Morton Allport, who in 1831 settled in what was then Van Diemen's Land. Joseph Allport's grandson, Cecil Allport (1858-1926), who made a study of Tasmanian history, began collecting books and pictures by local artists, which formed the nucleus of the family library. The collection was later augmented in many areas by his son Henry Allport, who added antique furniture, fine and decorative arts, to form the substantial and valuable collection bequeathed to the state in 1965.;;The terms of Henry Allport's will instructed that the family home, Cedar Court, be offered to the Tasmanian Government together with Henry Allport's collection of Australiana, including all books, manuscripts, pamphlets, maps, prints, and other items relating to the history of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and the collections of antique furniture, paintings and drawings, ceramics, silverware, glassware, and objects of historical interest. The bequest was given on condition that the collection should be preserved, with any subsequent additions, as a permanent public reference library of Australiana and museum of fine arts as near as may be on the lines of the Mitchell Library in Sydney but with a small fine arts museum attached.;;It was Henry Allport's intention that the Collection should remain at Cedar Court, his residence in Manning Avenue, Sandy Bay. However, it was found to be impossible properly to administer the provisions of his will in this setting. So, in 1972, after five years of limited public access it was, with Parliamentary authority, moved into specially designed premises in the tower block of the State Library of Tasmania. Here the items were brought together under modern systems of controlled atmosphere and lighting with opportunities for flexible display and study.;;