The multi-award winning Wanting (2008) by Australian writer Richard Flanagan revolves around the story of John Franklin as Governor of Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) (1837-1843) adopting an orphaned Aboriginal Australian girl, Mathinna (b 1835 on Flinders Island).

When Franklin is recalled to London, Mathinna is abandoned to the St John's Orphan School in Hobart.

Flanagan was inspired to write about Mathina because he had seen a portrait of her storage and was curious about this intelligent and gifted girl who was "utterly destroyed by the intention of seeking to make her white" https://www.ourtasmania.com.au/people-mathinna.html