Heritage Conservation Lab, University of Canberra
Gosh, the year has flown by! It’s been a busy year in the Heritage Lab, with students beavering away at their objects and learning of materials conservation. Again, a variety of interesting treatments took place this semester, among others: a disruptive conservation treatment on a turtle-shell specimen, a variety of book spine repairs, and large-format poster.
As another year ends, we would like to congratulate those who have completed their studies and will graduate in the coming year, and those who submitted their final assignments, and we will see you again next year. And final congratulations to Michelle Butler who won the AICCM Student of the Year 2024 award.
The graduating cohort also successfully organised and set up their graduating exhibition at FADX the Faculty of Arts and Design End of Year Exhibition, which showcased examples of their work throughout their time at the University of Canberra.
The Heritage Lab would also like to thank and bid a fond farewell to Jade Rice and Laura Cusack, who have spent their time as interns in the lab this year, learning about managing small collections and a materials conservation teaching laboratory.
On the research front, congratulations to A/Prof Alison Wain and team on winning a major ARC Discovery project grant, Conserving heritage in stone: culture and lasers in partnership. Initiated by the Maniligarr Traditional Owners of rock art in Kakadu National Park, Alison is the Lead CI on this project, which is valued at $1,004,964.
As the year and indeed our first decade comes to an end, the UC Heritage Lab would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas! and of course Festivus for the rest of us! Have a wonderful holiday!
International Conservation Services ACT
Doug Rogan, Director Museum and Gallery Services and ACT, recently unveiled the large copperplate Eureka Stockade Nolan mural. The mural was originally installed by ICS in early 2019, and then covered in June this year to protect the work while hail remediation was completed to the roof above. Once the roof works were completed, Doug and Angela Deka unveiled and cleaned the mural.
Doug Rogan unveiling the Sidney Nolan Eureka Stockade mural.
Australian Museum
Staff news
We welcomed Jessie Gray-Hart to the team in September. Jessie has taken on the role of Project Conservator attached to a multi-year Collection Enhancement and Digitisation Project. Jessie is backfilling the role.
In November, Kerry Etherington joined the team as a Project Conservator working with Sheldon on a storage upgrade project based at the Museum’s offsite facility. Kerry will focus on rehousing, assessments, and some treatments of Natural Science collection items.
The Conservation team hosted a student from Melbourne University in November. Elin Soderlund spent three weeks with the team but worked mostly with Sheldon and Sophie on the Natural Science collections. Elin worked on Ichthyology (fish) dry specimens and Palaeontology specimens. It was a pleasure having Elin join the team and we wish her all the best in the future.
The Australian Museum Conservation department hosted the Natural Science AICCM 50K grant recipients. Dani Measday, Irene Finkelde, Kerry Etherington and Sheldon Teare held a three-day working group to develop online training content, plan in-person workshops, and formulate the Natural Science Conservation Special Interest Group. The first of two online presentations is nearing completion, with the second taking shape.
SPNCH Conference 2024
In September, Natural Science conservators Sheldon Teare and Sophie Phillips travelled to Okinawa to attend the Society of the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNCH) conference. SPNCH, fondly pronounced ‘spinach’, is an international body that focuses on the care and management of natural science collections.
The conference was attended by natural science conservators from the Natural History Museum London, Natural History Museum of Denmark, The Field Museum, and the Yale Peabody Museum, to name a few, as well as other professionals from all areas of natural science collection care and management. It was fascinating to hear presentations about large and challenging treatments, difficult collection moves and gallery deinstallations, disaster response, and of course new and innovative materials and their use.
Treatment projects
Sheldon has put his paper conservation skills to good use while continuing to work on Type specimens from the Entomology collections. Several historic paper labels required unfolding, humidification and backing/stabilisation treatments.
A small sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) cub underwent minor treatment and analysis. Some visible mould structures were reduced across the fur surface. XRF analysis is providing Sheldon with some interesting information about the way this specimen was prepared and preserved.
A series of Ichthyology specimens were treated by our conservation intern, Elin. Thirteen specimens in a series were assessed and stabilised. This group displayed an unusual preparation method, with only half (one side) of a fish skin preserved, leaving a concave hollow on the other side. Elin applied multiple Japanese tissue paper patches and starch paste to stabilise caudal, pectoral, anal and dorsal fins. One specimen required detached scales to be adhered back in place – also using starch paste.
Collection Care
The Collection Care and Conservation (CC&C) team has been working toward My Green Lab certification this year and is the first lab in the Australian Museum to undergo this process. My Green Lab is an organisation that aims to reduce the environmental impacts of laboratory work and help people build a culture of sustainability in their workplace. In October, Elizabeth Reed gave a presentation on CC&C’s experience of this process at the Roadmap to Net Zero Conference and Workshop hosted by the Australian Museum in partnership with ICS. Obtaining certification involves taking an online self-assessment survey about your lab’s current sustainable practices to establish a baseline score, followed by several months to implement any changes, before re-taking the assessment survey for a certification score. Our baseline score was Silver (50%), which we hope to bring up to a certification score of Gold (60%) or Platinum (70%).
Elizabeth Reed presents on how the conservation laboratory at the Australian Museum began the process of getting My Green Lab certified.
International Conservation Services NSW
Changes to the ICS Sydney Team
For nearly 35 years, ICS founder and CEO Julian Bickersteth AO has overseen the growth and evolution of the company into a thriving hub of talented conservators and heritage experts. To deliver that growth nationally, he has now put in place a future-focused leadership team. In addition to Tony Ng, Commercial Manager, and Ruth Thompson, Operations Manager, Julian is now supported by Adam Godijn as Deputy CEO and Head of Fine & Decorative Arts; Richard Silink, Director of Objects, Outdoor & Built Heritage; Doug Rogan, Director of Museum & Gallery Services & ACT; Katie Smith, State Manager Victoria; Claire Rowson, State Manager WA; and Jochen Letsch, State Manager Qld.
L–R, Adam Godijn, Julian Bickersteth AO, Richard Silink.
Events
Roadmap to Net Zero Conference and Workshop, Australian Museum
On 1 September 2024, ICS collaborated with the Australian Museum to invite smaller NSW institutions to Roadmap to Net Zero, with the goal of sharing strategies for lowering institution emissions and aspiring to net-zero status. Fifty people from 18 institutions came together for this successful event where Julian Bickersteth AO was the keynote speaker. The participants gained practical and applicable knowledge, and brainstormed future developments in steps towards a cleaner future. The Australian Museum is now making a range of online tools available to support ongoing action.
Julian Bickersteth AO and Kim McKay AO.
National Trust (NSW) patrons’ visit
Adam Godijn, Deputy CEO, Matteo Volonté, Deputy Head of Conservation & Head of Paintings, and Richard Silink, Director Objects, Outdoor & Built Heritage, led a tour of the ICS Sydney labs for National Trust NSW patrons last week. Patrons got a sneak peek of where the conservation ‘magic’ happens. As a National Trust NSW partner, ICS was pleased to host the event to promote the conservation of the NT collection.
The Paper Lab, Sydney.
The Objects, Outdoor and Built Heritage Lab.
Preventive Conservation Intern
Gianna Puzzo joined ICS Sydney from the Winterthur / University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation to fulfil part of their 3rd-year graduate internship in Preventive Conservation. Gianna is supervised by Julian Bickersteth and collaborates across departments completing preventive conservation consultation and services, and assisting on a range of projects.
Everglades House & Gardens
Gianna Puzzo, Preventive Conservation Intern, completed a light-level assessment at the Everglades House & Gardens in Leura for the National Trust of NSW. Through spot readings taken across the galleries and rooms of the Art Deco Van de Velde house, Gianna provided recommendations for an exhibition of archival photographs and permanent collections and suggested strategies to reduce the damaging effects of light and UV.
Gianna Puzzo, Preventative Conservation Intern.
Paintings
White Rabbit Gallery exhibition
Suati Rojas, Senior Paper and Paintings Conservator, and Francesca Elia, Painting Conservator, along with Matteo Volonté, Deputy Head of Conservation & Head of Paintings, Claire Heasman, Senior Paintings Conservator, and Ned Carr, Conservation Technician & Framer, have been working on the White Rabbit Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, ‘XSWL’, which will open this December. While Suati and Francesca worked on general treatments, such as surface cleaning, consolidation, and inpainting of small damages, Matteo, Claire, and Ned were re-stretching and stabilising the artworks.
Preparing the collection at White Rabbit Gallery.
St Vincents Catholic Church, Redfern, Sydney
Alis Jitarescu, Deputy Head of Conservation Fine & Decorative Arts, Shrief Eissa, Objects Conservator, Francesca Elia, Claire Heasman, and Annabelle Silk, Conservation Technician, recently worked together to clean and seal the St Vincents Catholic Church’s stained-glass windows, which showed signs of water ingress. Sitting below the window is an Aboriginal mural containing the speech of Pope John Paul II given in Alice Springs in 1986, which was cleaned, stabilised, and retouched to ensure its ongoing preservation.
St Vincents Catholic Church, Redfern.
Stained glass window before and after treatment.
Aboriginal mural before treatment.
Aboriginal mural after treatment.
Paper
Caroline Whitley, Senior Paper Conservator, and Rebecca Clendinen, Paper Conservator have been working on a large religious 16th century volume affectionately known as Titui, reflecting the remaining letters on the cover page. We later discovered the full name was ‘Institutio Christianae Religionis’. Due to the loss of strength in and around the sewing stations, Caroline washed each page and added Japanese paper supports. It will soon be ready for binding.
In October, Caroline travelled to the National Trust property Cooma Cottage in the Yass Valley of NSW. Karen Wilcox, Senior Objects Conservator, and Shrief Eissa, Objects Conservator, stabilised a chimney breast of this original colonial bungalow. The crumbling wall was stabilised with a thick sandy layer of render, and then 2–3 layers of lime wash to match the colour of the wall.
Meanwhile, Caroline consolidated the original lifting wallpaper. Five layers thick in some areas, it reflects the changes in décor styles over the years. The paper was gently brush-vacuumed to rid it of cobwebs, grime, and silverfish frass, and carefully reglued with starch paste and adhesive.
Katie Wood, Head of Paper Conservation, and Rebecca carefully removed mould from pastel artworks, using small pieces of groom stick on bamboo skewers.
Rebecca Clendinen working on a 16th-century paper volume,
Caroline Whitley and Karen Wilcox working at Cooma Cottage.
Caroline Whitley working on the wallpaper at Cooma Cottage.
Textiles
Christina Ritschel, Principal Conservator & Head of Textiles, is currently working on four carriage blankets made from platypus, quoll, possum and fox fur, respectively. They were heavily affected by a moth infestation that went overlooked and are now undergoing hair consolidation. On the worst-affected blankets, up to 50–75% of the hair is loose.
Christina has been conserving items for our partners at White Rabbit Gallery, where she worked on an oversized tapestry from South Africa on the theme of COVID. The wall hanging comprises embroidered and appliqued images applied on a hessian backing. In preparation for exhibition, the hessian backing required stabilisation and a Velcro hanging system was applied along the top. Three South African prison uniforms were also treated for the White Rabbit Gallery exhibition. They received internal supports and were mounted with rare earth magnets before being framed.
In May of this year, Christina treated a large Tuareg mat from North-west Africa. The piece was surface-cleaned and backed with felt. Areas of patterning with the missing leather design were stabilised and a new edging was applied using leather treated to match the aged patina of the rest of the mat.
Christina and Lisa Pang, Conservation Technician, have worked on a variety of textiles that have come in for treatment in preparation for framing. This includes an intriguing Egyptian beaded death mask, a delicate silk tapestry, a Pre-Columbian ceremonial sash from Peru, and three maritime pennants, as well as a woollen knitted swimsuit.
After treatment by Christina, Elric Ringstad, Conservation Framer, beautifully framed an additional large platypus carriage blanket.
Embroidered South African prison uniform, mounted and framed.
Christina Ritschel treating the Tuareg rug.
Elric Ringstad and the framed platypus blanket.
Objects & Outdoor Heritage
Stephenson Loco Crane
Keir Bayley, Principal Conservator Metals, and Karen Wilcox, Senior Objects Specialist, worked at the Eveleigh locomotive workshops in Sydney on a rail-mounted steam train.
The workshops in Eveleigh operated for over 100 years as Australia’s largest and most technologically advanced of its kind.
The Stephenson Loco Crane ‘1083’, a self-propelled, rail-mounted steam crane, was part of this grand industrial heritage. Built in Darlington, by Robert Stephenson-Hawthorn Ltd, it operated at the Eveleigh, Clyde, and Chullora workshops from 1950 to the early 1980s. It was restored for display in the 1990s to tell the story of the steam-era workshops.
The ICS team stabilised the metal and replaced damages with steel patches. The locomotive was then thoroughly cleaned and painted with a protective coating to provide a barrier to the environment.
Stephenson Loco Crane.
Waverley Dolphin
Keir Bayley, Principal Conservator Metals, has been working with Waverley Council to conserve Diana Webber’s bronze dolphin. The sculpture was on display at the Bondi Pavilion from 1988 until being removed for conservation. The Council has now decided to reinstall the dolphin in a different location at Bondi Beach waterfront. The sculpture underwent surface treatments and was fitted with a new stand. The base needed further stabilising with armature to be ready for interaction with the public, so a wave design was sympathetically added to the original in silicon bronze and patinated. The new location has the dolphin displayed at an angled wall in the centre of a set of steps and ready for view from many passers-by.
Designing the new wave support.
Waverley Dolphin in new placement.
Museum and Gallery Services
Doug Rogan, Director Museum and Gallery Services and ACT, has been working with the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) to review its collection storage and help develop a plan for the collection into the future.
In September, Doug travelled to Armidale to roll out the Smarttrack RFID collection tracking system for the University of New England’s art collection.
MGS has also been busy with several Fortecho (art security and environmental monitoring) projects, including the Abundance gold maquette of Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros at the NGA.
Museums of History NSW
People
We’ve had many staffing changes here in Collections Care in recent months. In the Registration team, John Fisher joined us as Collections Officer and Phoebe Clarke has started as Collections and Loans Officer. In the Collections Care Properties team, Julia Catania has joined us as a Collections Care Assistant, working across our house museums.
At the Western Sydney Records Centre we say farewell to Assistant Conservator Pinkal Pandya who has returned to her substantive position as an Archives Administrator in Collection Services. We would like to thank Pinkal for her enormous contribution to the Forensic Photography Archive relocation from the Justice and Police Museum to the State Archives! We welcome Lang Ngo as Senior Adviser, Conservation. Thank you to Sarah Bunn who had been ably acting in this role for six months from the beginning of the year. Both Lang and Phoebe came to us from the State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW). Abigail Hundley also made a welcome return to us from secondment (also at SLNSW) and parental leave.
Projects
First Nations Community Access to Archives
Sarah Bunn was appointed the Supervising Conservator of the First Nations Community Access to Archives (FNCAA) project earlier this year. The FNCAA project is a partnership between Museums of History NSW and the Aboriginal Languages Trust NSW. The aim of the project is to improve access for First Nations people to important archival material about culture, kinship, stories and languages within the State Archives Collection.
The project commenced with searching the State Archives Collection for materials relating to First Nations peoples and their languages. This initiative involved employing a team of First Nations peoples who are being provided with on-the-job training to search for records that capture stories, descriptions of traditional ways of being, imagery, videos, or spoken and written words of Aboriginal Communities within NSW.
The next phase of the project is preservation and indexing. We have begun the conservation and digitisation of records being found by the team. Ensuring the records are accessible will support the growth and flourishing of First Nations languages and cultures.
L–R: Bethany Thornber, Alinta Trindall, Jasmyn Irwin and Amie Martin in a manual handling training session with Sarah Bunn. Photo © Joshua Morris for MHNSW.
State Dockyard digitisation
Part two of the State Dockyard digitisation has resumed. The State Dockyard was a ship building and maintenance facility operated by the NSW State Government in Newcastle between 1942 and 1987. Abby, Clara Cesarone and Paula Thorby will be rehousing and separating ‘blocked’ cellulose acetate negatives in preparation for digitisation early next year. The team has had success with separating the blocked negatives manually using the conservators’ favourite trusty ‘Coonabarabran’ plastic spatula.
Separating cellulose acetate negatives. Photo credit: Preservation Services for MHNSW.
Exhibitions
Collections Care has been busy preparing the upcoming exhibition Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country, which will be opening at the Museum of Sydney in April 2025. This exhibition will examine how Sydney’s landscapes were experienced and understood in the past. The exhibition revisits historical records including early maps and pictures to inscribe First Nations knowledge and understanding of country into the mapping of Sydney and in doing so creates a space to reflect upon changing perceptions of place in the present and into the future
Many of the team have been involved in providing advice, conservation and registration assistance with this project, namely Sarah-Jane Rennie, Alex Shapley, Phoebe Clarke and Abigail Hundley.
The Collections Care properties team has assisted with the installation of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize. This prize and exhibition (in its 20th year) invites women artists to submit works, in any medium, that respond to the historic house of Meroogal, its former occupants, and its meaning within broader historical and contemporary contexts. Selected artworks are on display and photographed throughout the property, located in Nowra on the NSW South Coast. The works provide new perspectives on the personal stories of the people who once lived there, and the rich collection of objects that are still contained within the house. The exhibition will be on display to the public from Saturday 9 November 2024 to Saturday 24 May 2025.
O’Sullivan Conservation
Staff news
The last three months have seen some changes to staffing at O’Sullivan Conservation, with Katherine Rosenthal and Camilla Norman both leaving us for other roles. We wish them both every success for the future. The restructuring saw the metals conservation specialist role removed from the company structure, and we have welcomed Ellen Newman into the role of General Manager.
Ellen comes to us with a background in grant application management, and operations and project management within state government organisations. We are excited to have her on board.
O’Sullivan Conservation is also advertising for a Graduate Objects Conservator, or Objects Conservator, to come on board in a full-time capacity in the new year, and we look forward to new faces in the building.
Treatment projects
O’Sullivan Conservation had the privilege of conserving the House of Representatives Press Gallery at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra. The Press Gallery was once the bustling hub for political journalists covering the daily happenings in the House of Representatives, located in Old Parliament House from 1927 to 1988. Now home to the Museum of Australian Democracy, these historic spaces have been the focus of an extensive conservation project to preserve their original architectural features and finishes.
The OSC team was engaged to carry out several treatment packages throughout April to June 2024, including to the timber doors, windows, skirtings, and handrails; the original checkerboard marmoleum floors and heritage carpets; the metal fixtures and fittings; and several small heritage items including clocks, signs and peg boards. By preserving the original heritage fabric, the Press Gallery offices have been conserved for visitors to enjoy in the coming years, with an insight into how they looked when vacated in 1988.
Emily Bramich polishing the applied coating on the heritage lino floors in the Press Gallery offices, Old Parliament House.
Mathew Geale undertaking repairs to the timber handrails in the Press Gallery offices at Old Parliament House.
Anna Broome conservation cleaning in the Press Gallery offices at Old Parliament House.
At the same time as the MoAD project was occurring, a second team was up in Brisbane undertaking condition assessments on part of the public art collection. The Brisbane City Council Public Art Collection consists of over 170 artworks and spans one of Australia’s largest local government areas. The Council entrusted OSC to provide tailored assessments and reporting services on the collection. Our comprehensive evaluations included a detailed condition assessment of each component artwork, location and risk assessment, and recommendations for future care and display. Each team member had their own collection favourites and managed to clock up their step count while touring around beautiful Brisbane!
Gestation by Baile Oakes, located in Queen Street Mall.
One of many ‘Signed Signs’ by Richard Tipping, located in New Farm.
Hannah crossing the Brisbane River on the condition assessment trail!
We recently completed our regular conservation maintenance treatment of the AM Jacquemart bronze Huntsman and Dogs in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, located between the Palace Rose Garden and the Conservatorium of Music. The sculpture has a long and storied history, having been cast at the Val d’Osne foundry in France, purchased from the Melbourne Exhibition in 1881, and then surviving the devastating 1882 fire at the Garden Palace. OSC is entrusted with the regular maintenance program for the sculpture, including thorough cleaning to remove insect debris and surface contaminants, treatment of corrosion, application of fills, and coating the sculpture with microcrystalline wax. The sandstone plinth is also regularly cleaned and treated with a biocide to prevent biological growth.
AM Jacquemart’s Huntsman and Dogs in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Conservation maintenance cleaning of Huntsman and Dogs.
The team spent several weeks in Woolloomooloo, undertaking a large-scale conservation cleaning and stabilisation project on the eight Woolloomooloo murals, designed and painted on the railway pylons by Michiel Dolk and Merilyn Fairskye in 1982. Initially, there were 16 murals; however, over the more-than-40-year period they have been on display, this has been reduced to eight.
The team enjoyed getting to know some of the local personalities, including ‘Louie’ the cat, and seeing the murals’ vibrant colours coming back to life during their time onsite. Locals expressed how much they valued the murals and shared their personal stories with the team.
Katherine Rosenthall undertaking initial cleaning from ground level of the Woolloomooloo murals.
Katherine Rosenthall undertaking initial cleaning from ground level of the Woolloomooloo murals.
After treatment, Woolloomooloo mural: Wallamullah Land of Plenty .
Vernon Studios Art Conservation
David Stein & Co. wound up operations in Alexandria on 30 September after many years of service in paintings conservation, just as Vernon Studios Art Conservation officially comes into existence. David will be concentrating on new and exciting ventures from his gallery and office in Moncur St, Woollahra, while Vernon Studios has taken over the purpose-built Burrows Road premises and equipment. The smooth transition is thanks in large part to the guidance and generosity of David, as well as the hard work of key team members of the previous DSCo. conservation team. Joining Kim Vernon at Vernon Studios are Anna Don (Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery, London, etc.) and Jessica Walsh (Grimwade Conservation Services, National Gallery of Australia, etc.).
Vernon Studios has been kept busy in the lead-up to Christmas, both with artwork storage and in the conservation studio, and we look forward to officially meeting and working with all our friends and partners in the conservation world.
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
The MAGNT Conservation team is made up of Sandra Yee (Senior Conservator), Carolyn McLennan (Objects Conservator), Eleanor Vallier (Exhibitions Conservator), Lily Monk (Paintings Conservator), and Lauren Ravi (Assistant Conservator).
Cyclone Tracy
The Conservation department has been very busy preparing the new Cyclone Tracy exhibition to commemorate its 50th anniversary, focusing on the experiences and resilience of the Darwin community. The total revamp of the exhibition is an exciting upgrade for visitors to the Museum.
This new exhibition will include the display of the Raggedy Andy doll that featured on the cover of the Australian Women’s Weekly following the event of Cyclone Tracy. He was clutched in the arms of a toddler in front of wreckage post cyclone. This photo propelled donations to support survivors of the tragic event. Carolyn has been finalising treatment of the doll, which included stain reduction and major stabilisation of a damaged leg. During the treatment, Carolyn consulted closely with Territory History Curator, Jared Archibald, to understand the history of the doll, making the decision to retain areas of stains and losses that occurred during Cyclone Tracy, reflecting the memories, history and emotional significance of the tragic event.
Carolyn McLennan preparing the mounting system for Raggedy Andy doll. Image: L Monk.
Sandra has undergone accredited asbestos training in preparation to treat and display an asbestos wall fragment recording the Cyclone Tracy clean-up team from HMAS Hobart. Sandra travelled to Canberra to complete the asbestos training and has consolidated the edges of the asbestos-containing material with Paraloid B72 and devised an appropriate support and safe display system for exhibition. The most difficult part of the process was wearing full PPE at 7am, 28°C and over 80% relative humidity.
Sandra Yee preparing the asbestos-containing material in full PPE. Image: Trakondy Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Pty Ltd.
Lauren has performed an extensive consolidation treatment to stabilise flaking paint on a HMAS Arrow ceremonial life buoy. This treatment was conducted using Aquazol of different molecular weights to suit the different requirements of the flaking paint. She also employed the lab’s new IR heat tool from RH Conservation Engineering, to soften paint flakes without contact. Prior to selection of the consolidant, Lauren conducted experiments with different weights of Aquazol to test their response to high humidity, informing our understanding of how the material reacts in a tropical climate.
Lauren Ravi undertaking consolidation treatment on a HMAS Arrow ceremonial life buoy. Image: E Vallier.
Media interest in the commemoration of the Cyclone Tracy 50th Anniversary has been high, including video interviews by the ABC with Carolyn and Lauren discussing the above treatments.
Northern Territory Art Gallery
In preparation for opening of the new Northern Territory Art Gallery in 2026, Eleanor has been conducting condition reporting, as well as planning a number of treatments and mounting systems for chosen items. Amongst these treatments have been a number of contemporary Indonesian artworks donated as part of the Cultural Gifts Program by collector Stephen Shaul. The Shaul Collection represents a wide range of contemporary Indonesian artists, from some well-known internationallyto exciting emerging artists. In addition to the donation of works, Shaul has included an ongoing financial contribution to support conservation and public programming around the collection.
Emerging artist Etza Meisyara was recently hosted by MAGNT as the first artist to be supported by Stephen Shaul’s generous donation. Etza’s work is a complex and beautiful artwork, comprising an installation of a patinated copper sheet with a sound component. Etza worked closely with Eleanor and Carolyn to demonstrate how the work was made, culminating with the delivery of an artist workshop. This deepened our understanding of the construction of the work, as well as the intrinsic conceptual and aesthetic elements. This in turn will inform our treatment of the work prior to display. Eleanor and Etza also worked closely with Lily to understand the sound element of the work. Lily has been spearheading the recently established Time-Based Media Working Group within the Collections team and successfully migrated the sound file from the original carrier. Together the team used a new system of microcontroller, wiring and speakers to manage successful playback of the file. This proved invaluable to grasp the conceptual significance of the sound file and chosen speaker as the display will require a new system of playback due to the fragile condition of the original artwork.
Eleanor Vallier and Etza Meisyara discussing sound component. Image: L Monk.
Eleanor and Lily have been undertaking a stabilisation treatment of I Gusti Bagus Ari Maruta painting Ritus Rintik, which sustained significant water damage prior to coming into MAGNT’s collection. This treatment has thrown up many intriguing questions relating to ongoing care for mould-damaged artworks in tropical climates, including ongoing investigations into correlations between visual staining and degree of cellulosic degradation of the cotton duck canvas. Eleanor and Lily presented on this treatment in a webinar for the AICCM Paintings Special Interest Group.
Outreach programs
The Conservation team has facilitated several outreach programs, including a Tropical Tips talk for the general public on how to prepare collections and memorabilia for the Wet Season. This talk coincided with Ask a Conservator Day and was well attended by an engaged audience.
Carolyn and Lily facilitated a preventive workshop, focusing on pests and mould for the Arnhem, Northern and Kimberly Artists (ANKA) Association’s ‘Art Worker Extension Program’ (AWEP).
Lily Monk and Travis Seccin during an AWEP visit to MAGNT. Image: Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists Association.
Other news
Alex Roach has undertaken an IPM assessment of the whole museum, providing a report with recommendations on how to further prevent pests entering the Museum. This report has been most useful in tackling the ongoing issue of pests in the Museum environment at MAGNT.
Lily is finalising her tear-mending treatment after participating in the Getty Conserving Canvas initiative Fusion 2: Asia-Pacific, hosted by Art Gallery of New South Wales.
International Conservation Services Brisbane
ICS Queensland opened its doors in Brisbane in October, continuing and expanding the services provided to the state’s cultural sector, from museums and galleries to institutions and private individuals.
We’re delighted to introduce Jochen Letsch as Qld State Manager. With a 20-year history in conservation framing and conservation support, Jochen has intimate knowledge of the considerations required for a wide range of materials and heritage items. He will be supported by ICS Deputy CEO Adam Godijn, along with our extensive network of in-house conservators.
Adam Godijn and Jochen Letsch.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
The Conservation team at TMAG has been preparing works for the upcoming exhibition On Island, featuring contemporary Tasmanian art from the TMAG Collection. The exhibition will be on for 10 months, so careful planning has gone into the display. The exhibition gives the public an opportunity to see works from the collection, some of which have not been seen since acquisition. The conservators have been cleaning, rehousing, and checking electronics to make sure the works are safe to display.
The painting lab welcomed University of Melbourne student Hayley James for her internship. Hayley is assisting with condition reporting, treatment and making a short video on conservation for the public.
University of Melbourne student Hayley James brush-vacuuming the Muttabuttasaurus replica
Both Hayley and Lisa Charleston, Conservation Technician, have been participating in the online course ‘A History of European Picture Frames’, through the Centre for Collections Care at Beloit College, Wisconsin. Course Instructor Hubert Baija, former senior conservator at the Rijksmuseum, is guiding participants through a comprehensive overview of the development of European decorative arts and frame styles.
In order to prepare for the summer crowds, Irene Finkelde, Senior Object Conservator, along with Lisa and Hayley, recently cleaned the Muttabuttasaurus replica in the TMAG courtyard. They used dry and wet cleaning techniques to remove the significant debris that had accumulated on the surface. It’s the first thing visitors see when visiting TMAG, so it’s great to remove all the dust and grime from the winter.
Cleaning the Muttabuttasaurus replica.
Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation (Academic Programs and Grimwade Conservation Services)
The second part of the year was a busy one with many of us travelling for conferences, research, training and workshops, and renewing contacts with our visiting scholars and experts.
Professional Development – Papua New Guinea
There are only two museums and over 10 million people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Within PNG, there is a huge concern that its intangible heritage is rapidly disappearing. In September, Senior Objects Conservator Holly Jones-Amin used her Professional Development time in PNG to deliver an education and engagement project funded by the Australian Research Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH). The program introduced Western materials conservation concepts and archaeological conservation of pottery to archaeology, museum studies students and professionals, to protect and conserve their tangible and intangible heritage. Holly presented lectures and ran practical workshops at the University of Goroka and the University of PNG and visited the National Museum and Art Gallery and National Archives in Port Moresby and JK McCarthy Museum in Goroka.
Dr Holly Jones-Amin delivering an education and engagement project in Papua New Guinea.
Visiting Scholars from Thailand
From 3 June 2024, the Grimwade Centre welcomed Chulalongkorn University visiting scholars Dr Kamonwan Pacaphol (Senior Lecturer), Miss Sureeporn Khaemphang (PhD Scholar), and Miss Watsachon Leksomboon (PhD Scholar) from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science (co-supervised by Dr Nicole Tse). In June, Dr Pacaphol shared her research on nano-cellulose with the Grimwade Centre and students, and also joined the Grimwade Centre at the See Yup Temple to undertake some fire recovery cleaning tests with PhD students Pan and Mew, and Nicole.
Pan and Mew have continued their research at the Grimwade Centre for the last five months and will return to Bangkok in December, and have focused on their research topics:
- Miss Sureeporn Khaemphang (Mew) ‘Pigment identification using spectral imaging analysis for single and dual pigments: digital pathways towards artwork attribution’
- Miss Watsachon Leksomboon (Pan) ‘Removal of foxing stains in old paper using xylanase and organogel’.
Prior to their departure, Mew and Pan gave two lectures and workshops. Mew presented on
multispectral imaging (MSI), hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and technical photography (TP) as critical tools for analysing cultural heritage and artworks. These techniques help reveal hidden details, identify pigments, and assess the condition of historical artefacts, and use predictive analysis and AI. The presentation covered the process of acquiring spectral images and the various methods used to process and interpret the data, providing invaluable insights for preservation and restoration efforts. Pan demonstrated how to make a simple gel for use in cleaning of painted surfaces using PVA as the main ingredient along with crosslinking agents.
Visting PhD scholar Miss Sureeporn Khaemphag (Mew) presenting a workshop on multispectral imaging (MSI), hyperspectral imaging (HSI), and technical photography (TP) to Grimwade Centre students.
Visiting PhD scholar Miss Watsachon Leksomboon (Pan) presenting a workshop on PVA gels.
Specialist Certificate in Cross-Cultural Conservation and Heritage
We will be hosting the Specialist Certificate in Cross Cultural Conservation and Heritage for two weeks on 2–13 December, with six art workers from Arts Centres in the Northern Territory and Kimberley, and one participant from Papua New Guinea.
With a focus on two-way learning, students will speak from their cultural perspective and their personal experiences. Students will learn broader principles for the conservation of cultural heritage and discuss how it applies to each Art Centre. Students will also examine the potential risks and types of damage to objects and how to reduce these risks. They will examine a range of cultural objects, with various deterioration and preservation issues, determine a conservation and preservation strategy and undertake basic treatment of an object
Topics include: how to do a condition report; how to make a decision for conservation treatment; consider how complex the intervention will be; and what it means to make decisions in cross-cultural situations, where senior knowledge may be cultural, academic or professional.
Awards
Congratulations to Professor Robyn Sloggett who has officially been awarded the Industry Laureate Fellowship at the Pin Ceremony in Canberra. The ceremony took place on 11 November and the award was presented to her by Alicia Payne MP.
Staffing
In September, Lucilla (Luci) Ronai joined the academic team. Luci will concentrate on teaching the treatment-based and internship subjects. She is excited to share her paper conservation knowledge, industry experience and passion for communicating conservation.
Teaching and Internships
In October and November, first year students in the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation completed Conservation Actions 1. They worked on a wide range of material ranging from printed rare music scores, synthetic paintings on board, carved wooden plaques exposed to fire damage and spectacles made from metal and glass. Over the course of the subject, they undertook lectures and practicals that covered conservation decision making, dry cleaning, wet cleaning, adhesives and adhesion, consolidation, humidification, infilling and inpainting. Congratulations to all these students on completing their treatments, and to their teachers Nicole Tse, Victoria Thomas, Lucilla Ronai, Paula Dredge and Hohi Ikeda.
Each year, institutions and private practices around Australia and overseas host second year Master of Cultural Material Conservation students for their Conservation Industry Internship. This year, students were placed with a range of hosts locally, interstate and internationally in Jordan and France. Thank you to all our hosts for 2024. We are so thankful for the meaningful, real-world learning experiences you have provided to the students. In 2025, Grimwade Centre new staff members Victoria Thomas and Lucilla Ronai will be co-coordinating the internship subject. If you are interested in hosting a student for 2025, please let us know by filling out the Internship – Host Request Form. Get in touch if you have any questions using the internship email
International Conservation Services, Victoria
The Melbourne team has moved!
We are pleased to share that International Conservation Services Melbourne has moved to new premises! The new Burwood lab will facilitate the continued growth of our services, with more space, better resources, and a more comfortable environment for both our team and clients.
We can now be found at 5 Harker Street, Burwood, 3125.
Melbourne also welcomes new team members!
To support the growth of ICS Melbourne, we are pleased to welcome Tom Farrell, Conservation Technician, and Ella Rimington, Objects Conservator.
AICCM Professional Member
Our Conservation Projects Manager, Kristine Allinson, has recently become an AICCM professional member. Congratulations, Kristine!
Princess Alexandra
The ICS Melbourne team recently reinstated the head of Princess Alexandra, a marble statue by Charles Summers, situated in the regional town of Alexandra. The head, missing since an attack of vandalism in February, was miraculously recovered in August and returned to the Murrindindi Council for reinstatement. Aside from a few abrasions and a sizable loss to the hair, the head was in surprisingly good condition. After some time spent in the lab to undertake a thorough clean, consolidation, and reconstruction of the loss, the head was reinstated in situ, whilst other repairs were made to the statue’s body.
Zora Sanders, with Princess Alexandra before treatment.
Alis Jitarescu, with Princess Alexandra after treatment.
Princess Alexandra statue after treatment.
Hercules and the Stoddart Collection
Throughout August and September, the ICS Melbourne team spent a lot of time in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens — first to reinstall the statue of Hercules post-treatment, and then to undertake comprehensive treatments on the 11 other marble statues that make up the Stoddart collection. Each statue received thorough attention, including cleaning, graffiti removal, consolidation of cracks and abrasions, and filling and reconstruction of losses.
Katie Smith, overseeing the reinstallation of Hercules in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens.
Hercules in situ, after treatment.
Bacchante, before treatment.
Bacchante, after treatment.
Paintings and Paper
We have also been working on a large array of paintings and paper artworks over the past few months with many tear repairs, varnish removals, and inpainting projects coming through the lab.
Portrait of two sisters, before treatment.
Portrait of two sisters, after treatment.
State Library Victoria
Staff changes
Conservation is delighted to welcome Hayley Nolle, who has joined our team as the inaugural Graduate Book Conservator. This two-year position is an initiative developed in partnership between State Library Victoria and The University of Melbourne. While learning how the book team operates, and finding her way around the Library, Hayley has been taking a deep dive into the skills of cloth underbacking.
Treatment projects
Paper conservators have recently been working on the treatment of a series of anatomical prints – Anatomischer Atlas des menschlichen Korpers in natürlicher Grösse, Lage und Verbindung der Theil (c. 1830-33, RARESEF 611 W38) by German physician and anatomist Moritz Ignaz Weber. Originally identified by Collection staff following an imaging request from an international scholar, this series of 46 engravings and lithographs was brought to attention for conservation treatment. Upon arrival in the conservation lab, they were found to be loosely bound and in poor condition.
Originally published as loose leaves packaged together, the prints appear to have been bound at a much later date in a library binding. In consultation with the Rare Books Librarian and Senior Book Conservator, the decision was made to disbind the already broken-down volume and rehouse the individual prints after treatment.
Anatomischer Atlas des menschlichen Korpers in natürlicher Grösse, Lage und Verbindung der Theil, (c. 1830-33, RARESEF 611 W38) during treatment. Image credit Jessica McElhinney.
The prints have been evenly distributed amongst the paper conservators and, to maintain consistency, each print is being treated similarly where possible. With the primary aim of stabilising the embrittled paper, the prints are being washed, old mends removed, and tears repaired.
Detail of Anatomischer Atlas des menschlichen Korpers in natürlicher Grösse, Lage und Verbindung der Theil, (c. 1830-33, RARESEF 611 W38) after treatment. Image credit Jessica McElhinney.
Anatomischer Atlas des menschlichen Korpers in natürlicher Grösse, Lage und Verbindung der Theil, (c. 1830-33, RARESEF 611 W38) after treatment. Image credit Jessica McElhinney.
Conference attendance
Paper Conservator Christine Mizzi recently attended the five-day workshop East Meets West – Traditional Japanese Techniques and Materials for Paper Conservation with Professor Keisuke Sugiyama, hosted by the Institute of Conservation, Bavarian State Library, Munich. Additionally, she attended the 37th International Paper Historians Congress in Oslo, jointly hosted by The National Museum, The National Library of Norway and MUNCH. Presentations from a range of specialities focused on the identification and analysis of paper and were followed each day with tours of the hosts’ collections and conservation labs. We are looking forward to incorporating the knowledge gained from Christine’s travels into our conservation practice.
ICS Perth
Claire Rowson, State Manager WA, in ICS Perth, and Lorna Sweetwood assisted a team of builders and contractors in cleaning and relocating a large tree-form artwork by prominent Western Australian modernist, Howard Taylor.
Claire also took on some challenging repairs to a valuable fibreglass Superman sculpture that had a serious fall. It’s rare that a during-treatment photo looks cooler than the final results, but after some surgical implants, the ‘Man of Steel’ was more aluminium as Claire spanned the large losses with aluminium armature mesh, before filling and inpainting the final repairs.
Lorna vacuuming the tree-form artwork.
Fibreglass fist of Superman.