The University of Newcastle, Australia

A modern-day collecter's chest recording the beauty and heritage of Australia's natural environment is currently on display at the University of Newcastle.

The PhD work of natural history illustration lecturer Ms Anne Llewellyn, combines art and science to provide a snapshot of Australia's diverse habitats.

Ms Llewellyn said the hand-made chest full of natural history treasures was the culmination of years spent researching and travelling to observe nature.

"It is a modern-day rendition of the traditional collector's chests of earlier centuries, when the rich and privileged collected the material wonders of the New World.

"This chest contains sketchbook journals, site rubbings, framed images, botancial specimens, seeds and pods, an insect collection, reference books and collectables such as shells, rocks and fossils."

The Llewellyn Collector's Chest is on display until Friday 10 October 2008 in the Design Building, Newcastle campus (at Callaghan).