CONSERVING BALLARAT
Recent Lovell Chen conservation works in Ballarat, Victoria
In the decades following the discovery of gold in 1851, Ballarat emerged rapidly as a jewel of the British Empire. Today, the city centre survives as a model of neo-classical town planning, with an outstanding collection of 19th century civic and commercial buildings. Our recent work in the city includes conservation work on the Town Hall,
RAILWAY STATION, Art Gallery and Myer.
photo Ballarat Town Hall, 1860s
The multi-phase restoration and refurbishment of the Railway Station included a comprehensive overhaul of the ceremonial west and south elevations, the reinstatement of glazing and vents to the train hall roof and restoration of the footbridge.
At
Ballarat Art Gallery (1887, top image at left), we worked on the restoration of the principal elevation addressing Lydiard Street. Work included render repairs, the reinstatement of the original paint colour (based on paint scrape evidence), and the introduction of glass sliding doors to the main entrance.
External stonework and render repairs have been carried out to the Town Hall and Myer Ballarat (bottom left) respectively.
Our association with the city dates back over 25 years. Our early work focused on stone conservation issues and memorials and included a survey of the sculpture in the Sturt Street median strip. We also undertook CMPs for the Botanic Gardens and Ballarat Brewery, and wrote a report on the Eureka memorial in the city's cemetery.
Lovell Chen is currently working on render repairs to Ballarat's Arch of Victory.
[ photos: Trevor Mein ]
OTIRA
Restoring an historic exterior
External restoration works are complete at Otira, the Melbourne mansion designed by Thomas Crouch for salt manufacturer and philanthropist Henry Berry.
Lovell Chen was engaged to restore the 1887 property and to adapt it from an educational centre for the Uniting Church back to its original residential use.
A focus of the work was the restoration of the two-storey cast iron lacework verandah and balcony, which had been removed in the 1960s. The reconstruction was based on analysis of a small surviving fragment of the orginal lacework, historic photography and period product catalogues.
Works are now underway on the restoration of the interiors.
[ main photo: Trevor Mein ]
[ small photo: Otira before restoration ]