"They were bonnets which they wouldn't have been able to own themselves to put on their children," she said during her visit to Wellington for the SpringFest celebrations at the weekend.

"It was such an emotional symbol to tell the story of the grief of the convict women out there, especially with the death of so many of these young children."

It was from this discovery that Ms Henri developed the idea of making a bonnet to represent each convict woman sent to Australia with their name, sentence and the ship they were transported on embroidered on the brim -as well as a rose or similar symbol.

The artist in residence of the Cascades Female Factory in Tasmania named the project Roses From the Heart because roses would have reminded the convict women of the homeland they had been exiled from.

Now with the help of many people across the country she is close to having the 23 500 bonnets finished, with Wellington contributing over 100 at the weekend.

Meeting the people who made the bonnets was a fascinating experience and in Wellington it was a chance for many locals to make a connection with their convict ancestry.

"Every story is different and exciting; even when they say it's not, it always is," she said.

Ms Henri's hope is to one day have permanent installations of the bonnets in Tasmania and the mainland.

These days one in 7 Australians have convict ancestors and while it was once considered embarrassing, she believes it has become a badge of pride.

"We should be proud of all of them," she said.

"In many ways our nation was founded on convict service."

"What would any of us have done in these desperate situations?"

She describes their story as a celebration of the resilience and fortitude of women in how they survived and turned their situation around.

"My only wish is that we could turn the clock around so these women could see the many things that have been achieved by their descendants."