Not Just Stitches

The Not Just Stitches project celebrates the role played by women over the last 200 years and before in developing the Penrith area community.

The wall hangings were designed by Marie Morris and created by a team of volunteer embroiderers under the supervision of Barbara Curran, the Mistress of Embroidery.

The seven panels were designed to display the involvement of women in the development and growth of Penrith.

Pioneer Women of the Penrith Area – composed of seven panels, designed by Marie Morris, completed in 1996

Representing the long history of the area before the time of European settlement – the escarpment, the river and the plains, with local Aboriginal women, Nellie Na Doongh and Maria duaghter of Yarramundi(?).

The farms and cleared lands of Orchard Hills, Mrs Collett in flowing crinoline being swept down the flooded river, post offices of Mulgoa and the swan totem of the local Aboriginal people.

Glenbrook Gorge meets the Nepean River, Mrs Hawkins (one of the first women to travel across the Blue Mountains), a cameo representing motherhood, a pub on the river, a general store at St Marys and Munitions Filling Factory workers. Note the emu (for Emu Plains) and the rowing scull on the river.

The original crossing point of the river, the Government Agricultural Farm, the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre and a panel based on a wall hanging by Margo Lewers.

Represents the change over time of Penrith’s population, the orchards and trees of the area and the children are wearing fashions from different periods since European settlement.

Not just stitches panel 6 – women at work in nursing, handicrafts, kitchen and on the farm and badges representing women’s organisations in the local area.