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In Review: Conserving Heritage
From fencing to framing and everything in-between, staff and volunteers have been hard at work ensuring properties and collections are protected and conserved.
ARCHIVES
A priority has been to make the archives collection more accessible to the public. The entire National Trust Register is now scanned, secured and searchable for the first time. Photographs, publications and records are regularly being digitised and are now searchable on the National Library’s Trove catalogue. This has assisted many researchers to access the full breadth of the National Trust’s resources.
PROPERTIES
Protection and conservation projects helped bring buildings and landscapes to life in 2021/22. Norman Lindsay Gallery: Gallery-quality lighting was installed thanks to the Maple Brown Foundation. This has dramatically improved the presentation of works at this much-loved property. Woodford Academy: External timber was painted thanks to combined funding from Heritage NSW and the Dr Flynn Bequest. This has greatly improved the property’s presentation and ensures the original features will remain intact for many years to come. Grossman and Brough Houses: Lamp posts were repainted, repaired and electrical components made operational, thanks to the Chart Grant funding through AMGA. Signage was also upgraded to improve the appearance from the street. Everglades House and Gardens: Evidence-based planning is underway to inform repairs and reinstate many original features. Thanks to our generous donors, over $200,000 was raised through an appeal for this impressive Art Deco house. Saumarez Homestead: External repainting has been completed and solar panels installed thanks to the kind generosity of a donor, significantly lowering the power bills. A unique collection of 1930s travel posters discovered in the property archives have also been conserved and are on display, thanks to a recent art conservation appeal.
COLLECTIONS
Mould and pests are one of biggest threats to collections. Property inspections and treatments were a priority throughout the year. Staff and volunteers were trained in safe and effective mould remediation procedures. Workshops on cleaning artworks and the care of fine furniture were run by International Conservation Services as part of a National Trust partnership. A report on the significance of the contents of the 1840s Bedervale Homestead found original manuscripts, rare hand drawn maps, high quality artworks, books, photographic albums, and fine-crafted furniture to be of National Significance. Owned by the National Trust, the Bedervale collection still resides in the homestead built by Captain Coghill and designed by John Verge in 1836. The sketchbooks of Emily Rose Twynam, held by her descendants, were scanned and copies are now displayed at Riversdale. Conservation of four chandeliers at Lindesay included reinstating detached beads, replacing corroded pins and adhering broken fragments.
Emily Rose Twynam sketchbook
Still Life 17th century attributed to Gerrit Willemz. Heda
DUTCH MASTER REVEAL
The remarkable discovery of a 400-year-old Dutch Master painting was made possible by the incredible support of donors and members. Housed inside Woodford Academy and known simply as Still Life, the restorers from International Conservation Services spotted two microscopic signatures and knew that this was no ordinary piece. The valuable 17th century work has been attributed to Gerrit Willemz. Heda, son of the famous Dutch Master still life painter Willem Claesz. Heda. The building currently known as Woodford Academy in the Blue Mountains, was gifted to the National Trust, along with its contents. It is possible that the artwork was introduced to the house in Woodford by Alfred Fairfax, nephew of James Fairfax, the founder of the Sydney Morning Herald. Alfred, successful in business, purchased the building in 1868. At the time art collecting was a widely shared past-time and Dutch works were particularly popular. The story captured imaginations, generating interest both locally and internationally. More than 350 news articles were published on the discovery. Expert considerations of the Still Life’s creator are ongoing, with suggestions that it may be a father-and-son collaborative artwork being investigated. Willemz Claesz. Heda’s works are typically valued in the millions of dollars. The Trust is proud to have collaborated with experts to help identify and conserve this unique item in our collection.
Sydney Morning Herald, 16 April 2022
