Conservation in action: Meroogal exterior painting 2025

At Meroogal, the ongoing conservation of the beautiful timber detailing of the Juliet balconies, the bargeboards and fascia boards of the gables, weatherboards and masonry chimneys requires specialist knowledge and skills. Works must be done with patience, sensitivity and care.

As part of its 2024–25 capital maintenance program, Museums of History NSW is undertaking painting works on the east and south facades of the house. Specialist painters will remove any damaged putty and lightly sand timber surfaces to prepare them for coats of oil paint that will seal the timber and brick, protecting them from decay. 

The paint will be applied with brushes, as it was originally done, covering every nook and cranny to prevent water seeping into the interior spaces, which hold significant finishes and collection items. It is estimated that the works will take four weeks to complete. During this time Meroogal will remain closed to visitors; please see our website for updates.

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Exterior of Meroogal with Jacaranda Trees in bloom

Meroogal: preserving the story of a family

Meroogal is more than just a charming 1880s timber house: it’s a significant piece of social history and a living testament to a family

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More conservation in action

Conservation in action: South paddock rear access stairs and pathway project

For over a century, the pathway and stairs connecting Olola Avenue to the south paddock have provided an access route into the Vaucluse House grounds

Conservation in action: Meroogal external drainage and pathway works

Taking care of Meroogal requires ongoing care and sensitivity. Protecting the historical integrity of the site involves managing the environment around the house to prevent the slow decay caused by moisture.

Conservation in action: Vaucluse House outbuilding conservation works

Dating from around 1840, these outbuildings are in the service yard, the historical core of household service activities at Vaucluse House

Wentworth Mausoleum, photographer unknown, 1901. Nielsen-Vaucluse Park Trust photographs, 1856–1960s, volume 5

Conservation in action: Wentworth Mausoleum conservation works

Completed in 1874, the Wentworth Mausoleum is a rare and significant example of private Victorian funerary architecture in Australia