Conserving the archive

Based at the Western Sydney Records Centre, the NSW State Archives Collection documents the daily work of the NSW Government and its agencies from 1788 to today. For many researchers and historians, accessing the collection can be a critical part of their work.

There are many fragile records that have not yet been digitised, so providing physical access sometimes requires work from one of MHNSW’s specialist conservators. In this video, supervising conservator Dominique Moussou talks through her work and some of the projects the team are undertaking in the lab.

Published on 
View of a bedroom with faded and torn wallpaper with an old map of the world on one wall, a single bed, dressing table and view through a door to the top of a staircase, with faded and damaged paintwork.

A House In The Making

After 162 years of being continuously occupied 62 Gloucester Street was opened to the public for the first time in 2006

Ramshackle wooden building with tin roof and wire enclosed coop at one end.
Conservation

A herculean task: clearing the woolshed

The first stage of a major conservation project at Rouse Hill Estate involved removing thousands of objects accumulated over 150 years of the property’s occupation

vlcsnap-2017-07-20-13h12m49s472.jpg

A lighter shade of drab

In this video, as specialist painter Adam John Christian Seur goes about his work, curator Gary Crockett explains the origin of drab

Internal view of the timber shed at Rouse Hill Estate
Conservation

A strong and simple structure: conserving the woolshed

The second phase of a major conservation project on the woolshed at Rouse Hill Estate has seen the rustic 160-year-old structure strengthened and stabilised