Rouse Hill conservation works October 2024 – May 2025

After detailed condition inspections of the state heritage–listed Rouse Hill Estate, MHNSW’s Capital Works and Heritage teams have begun a large-scale conservation project that will sensitively address a range of identified issues at the site.

The project illustrates MHNSW’s commitment to considered and appropriate conservation of the historic sites we manage and care for by always respecting each site’s unique conservation ethos when scoping intended work. To understand the unique approach for this particular site, read the article below.

The project is further supported by a multidisciplinary team of expert MHNSW staff, including members of the Collections Care team, and external heritage specialists and consultants, as well as hydraulic and structural engineers.

Scope of works

Several areas of Rouse Hill Estate will undergo remediation work. The main parts of the site that will be impacted are the exterior shell of the main house and service wing. Work includes the following:

• Roof works include replacement of failed slates, iron roof sheets and lead flashings.
• Stormwater goods repairs or replacements include replacement of deteriorated gutters and downpipes, repair of damaged underground site drainage, and repairs to the underground cistern that supplied the house with water until town water was connected in 2017.
• Timber repairs include targeted window joinery, shutters, verandah support beams and doors.
• Stone conservation includes desalination, repointing, crack infill, and repaving flagstones.

The project will also include works on the stables, largely involving similar stormwater goods remediation, lead flashing repairs, stone and brick repair and desalination, and some timber joinery repairs.

Timeframe

The works start in October 2024 and are scheduled for completion in May 2025. While work has been carefully staged to ensure that the site can mostly continue to be enjoyed by the public – including visitors, students, community partners, corporate clients and local communities – throughout the project, some parts of the main house and stables will be publicly inaccessible during this time.

Follow this page for regular milestone updates on the works that will be undertaken over this financial year, as well as highlights.