HISTORY has been rejuvenated at the Port Macquarie Historical Museum.
Nationally significant items from the Port Macquarie Historical Society collection have recently returned home after undergoing important preservation treatments.
These treatments and purchase of archival storage materials was made possible through a $10,560 grant from the Community Heritage Grants program administered by the National Library of Australia.
The work was completed over several months at a conservation laboratory in Sydney and includes the Advance Australia embroidered pelmet which hung for many years in the museum’s parlour.
Nine Lionel Lindsay watercolours of Port Macquarie scenes have also undergone extensive cleaning and conservation work by trained conservators.
The conservation work was recommended in a Preservation Needs Assessment of the museum’s collection completed in 2011. The assessment reported on the condition of the collection and made a number of recommendations to help preserve it for future generations.
Port Macquarie Historical Society President Debbie Sommers said the recommendations of the report were gradually being implemented.
“It is a long list but the Preservation Needs Assessment report has assisted us in gaining targeted funding such as what we received for the pelmet and watercolours,” she said.
“Further grants will be applied for to assist with conservation and preservation of other identified significant items in the collection.”
The newly conserved items will be placed back on public display in the coming months as part of planned temporary and permanent exhibitions at the museum.
