The new artwork, a tapestry titled Concerning the Wading Birds of the Warrnambool Wetlands, is based on a watercolour by Australian artist John Wolseley and was officially unveiled yesterday. 

The tapestry was woven at the Australian Tapestry Workshop in Melbourne and when Prince Charles visited in November last year he was given a sneak peak. 

Workshop director Antonia Syme said Prince Charles was very impressed and gave it the tick of approval. 

“The Prince is a keen watercolourist and was very interested to see how the painting had transformed into a tapestry,” Ms Syme said. 

“He is also a keen conservationist, so the native flora and fauna the tapestry depicts also sparked his interest.” 

The Tapestry, which took 1360 hours to weave, was donated by the Geoff and Helen Handbury Foundation and features native flora and fauna, with a focus on representative birds from the region, in incredible detail. 

It will hang in the main foyer and hospital officials hope it will become a focal point for patients and visitors. 

?jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au