Post Tagged with: "conservation"

Melodrama in Miniature – the conservation treatment of model set pieces from the 1902 play ‘The Breaking of the Drought’

Melodrama in Miniature – the conservation treatment of model set pieces from the 1902 play ‘The Breaking of the Drought’

February 7, 2024

Collection Care, Conservation:

Theatre in early Melbourne was a vital part of community. Audiences were dazzled by the ambitious set designs of John Brunton, brought to the stage by Bland Holt’s immensely popular theatre company. Some model set pieces for plays such as The Breaking of the Drought have survived this whirlwind, finishing their journey within State Library Victoria’s walls. Careful conservation will allow this legacy to endure for many years to come.

Careful work for Howard Arkley’s ‘Casual Works’

Careful work for Howard Arkley’s ‘Casual Works’

November 1, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation:

State Library Victoria recently acquired 27 works on paper from Howard Arkley’s 1988 exhibition, Casual Works: Working Drawings, Source Material, Doodles, 1974-1987. This material forms part of a larger collection… Read More ›

Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

Conservators prepare rare treasures for new digital exhibition

September 26, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Rare Books & Arts:

Come behind-the-scenes and learn how our conservators prepared a range of rare treasures for the new online exhibition, Beyond the Book: A digital journey through the John Emmerson Collection.

A-Z of Collection Care: Part 2

A-Z of Collection Care: Part 2

April 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation, Tips and tricks:

Looking for some more insights into the day-to-day activities of the Library’s Collection Care team?

Part 2 of the A-Z of Collection Care series takes us from marvellous maps to pesky pests and beyond.

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 2: Conservation treatment

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 2: Conservation treatment

March 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation:

In part 2 of this series, follow along as our paper conservators stabilise an enormous billboard for Brockhoff’s popular Crispette supper cracker.

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 1: Brockhoff Biscuits and the perfect supper cracker

Reconstructing Brockhoff’s Crispette billboard – Part 1: Brockhoff Biscuits and the perfect supper cracker

March 28, 2023

Collection Care, Conservation, Digitisation:

In part 1 of this series, which was inspired by the conservation treatment of an enormous biscuit billboard, learn about Melbourne’s own Brockhoff Biscuits and their perfect supper cracker, the Crispette.

How to protect and salvage your flood damaged treasures

How to protect and salvage your flood damaged treasures

October 21, 2022

Collection Care:

Floodwaters in Victoria have caused significant damage to personal possessions and cultural heritage collections. Learn how to protect your treasures and salvage flood-damaged collections.

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

December 22, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation:

It’s bushfire season again. How can you reduce the risk of loss of treasured objects before a disaster and what sort of salvage strategies can you use to recover them? If you live in an area where bushfire is an all too real possibility, it’s never too soon to start planning for their preservation.

Constitution Hill at

Conservation rejuvenates ‘Constitution Hill at Sun set’

December 15, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation:

During the Library closure, Collection Care had the opportunity of attending to the conservation treatment of one of the Library’s iconic paintings, Constitution Hill by colonial artist John Glover. Recent conservation treatment has transformed its appearance and inspired a new appreciation of this important work.

Detail of Blinky Bill and Mrs Koala, Dorothy Wall, [between 1933 and 1940?]; H2015.180/28

Blinky Bill: in the Conservation Lab

October 9, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation:

Blinky Bill has been a favourite amongst Australian children since he first made an appearance in the 1933 book Blinky Bill: The Quaint Little Australian. A collection of drawings by author and illustrator Dorothy Wall (1894–1942) were recently acquired by the Library – several of which have come to the Conservation Lab for assessment and treatment.