International Conservation Services (ICS) : Fremantle Prison Murals 

In late 2019 a team of ICS conservators led by Adam Godijn undertook treatment of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fremantle Prison murals. Team members included Matteo Volonte, (principal paintings conservator), Julia Mauny-van den Berg (paintings conservator), Eden Christian (paintings conservator), Fei Chen and Lily Bennion (graduate conservators), and Simone Dowd, Emma Morrison and Jackson Davies (student conservators).

The team consolidated brittle and extensively damaged paint layers. Through examination and analysis they also revealed the current imagery was not original; rather, there were layers of murals painted at different times. The treatment was innovative in its approach of conserving not only the murals’ convict history but also later additions.

Students and recent graduates worked on this project alongside experienced ICS conservators, providing a wonderful opportunity for knowledge exchange and skills transfer. Team members also discussed their work with visitors and tour groups during the project.

Past Recipients