Conservation Projects
Recent Projects
All News & Stories-
October 28, 2020Looking Back: Barwon Park – Jobs Fund Heritage Project
We are currently approaching the 150th anniversary of Barwon Park and reviewing work previously completed at the property. Between 2009-2011 the National Trust completed an extensive project at Barwon Park, ... -
September 17, 2020Labassa Entry Door Sidelight Conservation
In 2019 the National Trust was awarded a DELWP Living Heritage Grant to undertake conservation works to its State listed properties over two years. This year, part of this grant ... -
August 12, 2020Barwon Park Shearing Shed Restoration
The Barwon Park Shearing Shed is located to the north-west of the homestead. It is a timber-framed and clad building with a main gable roof and a skillion wing on ... -
August 12, 2020Barwon Park Homestead Roof Repairs
In 2019 the National Trust was awarded a DELWP Living Heritage Grant to undertake conservation works to its State-listed properties over two years. For the 19/20 Financial Year $8,000 was ... -
July 30, 2020Como Living Heritage Grant Works
In 2020, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) completed the first stage of urgent exterior conservation works at Como House & Garden, funded by a Living Heritage Grant. The project ... -
January 29, 2020Mills Cottage Conservation Works
Captain John Mills Cottage is a timber cottage in Port Fairy, constructed in stages between c1841 and 1856 and bluestone stables constructed in 1858. The property is of State significance as one of the oldest surviving timber ...
Past Projects
Gulf Station – Fence Repairs
Gulf Station is significant as one of the most complete surviving complexes of farm buildings of vernacular timber construction in Victoria. Special to this farm complex are the early timber post and rail fences. Carpenter Matthew Jeffery, together with a dedicated team of Gulf Station volunteers, is progressively undertaking vital repairs to these fences. Traditional methods of fence construction are being applied to these repairs including hand splitting using steel wedges, the use of an axe to make posts and rails and the use of a frow to make pickets, slabs and palings.
McCrae Homestead – Chimney Conservation
Built in 1844 by lawyer Andrew McCrae and his artist wife Georgiana, the Homestead is a rare example of drop slab construction. Made from materials such as messmate, stringybark and wattle, the homestead was sold to the National Trust in 1970 by Georgiana’s great-great-great grandson. The low-fired brickwork of the chimneys at McCrae is suffering from salt attack with both rising and falling damp. Conservation specialist David Young has reviewed the chimneys, recommending works spanning roof repairs, the removal of modern paint coatings, drawing out the salts from the brickwork and consolidating the brickwork with lime water, as well as repainting the brickwork with a lime wash.
Como House – Window Restoration
Como House commenced in 1855 and was completed in the early 1870s as the home of the Armytage family. Restoration of the two main windows to the tower were completed at the end of 2019. These repairs required specialist joinery, glazing and painting skills.