August 2007
The CHG program is funded by the Australian Government and managed by the National Library of Australia in partnership with the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the National Archives of Australia, the National Film and Sound Archive and the NationalMuseum of Australia.
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In 2005, seventy six organisations received Community Heritage Grantsvalued at over $375 000 in total.The achievements of each project appear below.
Australian Capital Territory
AustralianAcademy of Science
This project involved reformatting audio and audiovisual material of the Academy’s history. The transcription of the audio recording of the Academy building opening ceremony on 6 May 1953 is now available on the Academy website, at On the recommendation of the National Film and Sound Archive, the audio material wascopied by BearCage Pty Ltd and the video material by the National Video Centre.
This project was featured in an article in the AustralianAcademy of Science Newsletter, Aug-Nov.2005, No. 63,p.9.
Contact
Pamela Ferrar
Business Manager
AustralianAcademy of Science
GPO Box 783
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Tel: 02 6247 9024
Australian Dance Council—Ausdance
In consultation with Dance Librarian, Anne Slaney, and digitisation company Netimpact, this project focused on the preservation of Ausdance’ s corporate archives.
The process had three outcomes: it preserved at-risk paper documents in digital format; it provided searchable PDF files of publications such as Dance Forum for the website; and it identified a process for selecting, organising and digitising documents. The archive was also rehoused as part of the process.
Julie Dyson comments:‘In choosing to undertake an integrated approach to the project, which is linked to our website development, we feel we have maximised the available funding by increasing the skills of our staff, providing us with the autonomy to decide what material should be prioritised and investing in software which will be useful with this integrated approach.’
Contact
Julie Dyson
Executive Officer
Australian Dance Council—Ausdance Inc.
PO Box 45
BRADDON ACT 2612
Tel: 02 6248 8992
ACT Council of Social Service Inc (ACTCOSS)
Kim Morris, Art and Archival, Queanbeyan, provided a comprehensive preservation needs assessment of the Council’s collection. Files have been rehoused and moved to a new storage facility.
Contact
Ara Creswell
Director
ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS)
PO Box849
MAWSON ACT2607
Tel: 02 6202 7234
Catholic Social Services Australia
A significance assessment report focusing on the historical, cultural and social significance of the records and library collection, as well as the contextual significance of this material in relation to national social welfare policies and practices was compiled by Dr Margaret Park and George Imashev, Park Historical Services, Hughes, ACT.
As a result of the project, conservation work has now been completed and a finding aid to the collection has been developed. In addition, the collection is now housed in once place and in proper environmental conditions.
Mary Jamison reports: ‘Catholic Social Services has significantly benefited from the work undertaken under the grant and we have thoroughly enjoyed our involvement.Whilst the significance of our history was known anecdotally, the assessment of the documents confirms the historical,cultural and social influence of organisationsin the development of social services policy in Australia.The project also identified documents of significance spanning the period 1950–1970 relating to organisations including Centacare, ACOSS and the Little Sisters of the Poor.’
Contact
Mary Jamieson
Catholic Social Services Australia
PO Box 326
CURTIN ACT 2605
Tel: 02 6285 1366
Fire Brigade Historical Society of the ACT Inc
A preservation training workshop led by Kim Morris, Art and Archival, Queanbeyan, will be conducted in August 2007.
Contact
Drew McLean
Secretary
Fire Brigade Historical Society of the ACT Inc
PO Box 468
Cnr Empire Circuit & Fitzroy Streets, Forrest
CURTIN ACT 2605
Tel: 02 6207 2369
New South Wales
Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist, Balmain North
Kay Soderlund of Preservation Australia based in Enmore, NSW,undertook the preservation needs assessmentof the Church’s collection.The final report highlighted the importance of a disaster plan, and St John’s will give priority attention to developing this aspect of collection management and incorporate it into its heritage collection policy. Once the preparation of the photo archive is complete and ready for digitisation, the collection will be posted on the internet, through the Local Studies Collection of Leichhardt Library. The report’s recommendations will ensure a plan for progressing public accessibility to, and preservation of, the collection.
Village Voice published an article regarding this project in December 2005 and January 2006.
Contact
John Williams
Coordinator, Joint Project Management Committee
Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist, Balmain North
PO Box 45
BALMAIN NSW 2041
Tel: 02 9810 1396
CampbelltownCity Library
Kim Morris of Art and Archival, Queanbeyan, conducted a preservation survey of the local studies collection. Once the recommendations are implemented and further funding for preservation measures is obtained, access will be improved. Key components of the collection have been earmarked for immediate conservation as a result of the survey.
Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiserfeatured an article on30 Nov 2006, p. 30.
Contact
Grant White
Manager of Libraries
CampbelltownCity Library
PO Box 57
CAMPBELLTOWN NSW 2560
Tel: 02 4645 4444
The Chinese Nationalist Party of Australasia (Kuomintang, KMT)
Ms Kuo Mei-fen, a Phd student at La Trobe University, prepared a comprehensive bi-lingual inventory of the archival collection. Prof John Fitzgerald, Kuo-Mei-fen, and Mr Henry Chan completed a significance assessment of the collection and Elwing and Gurney Archival, Lawson, NSW,conducted a preservation survey of the collection. The project will lead to the rehousing of the archival collection and, together with a collections management plan and access policy, the collection will be better preserved for the future.
Contact
Henry Chan
President
The Chinese Nationalist Party of Australasia (Kuomintang, KMT)
PO Box 80
HAYMARKET NSW 1240
Tel: 02 9211 5865
The Cathedral Parish of St Saviour
Kylie Winkworth, Museum and Heritage Consultant fromSydney,producedacomprehensive significance assessment of the Cathedral’s moveable items.
Alan Tierney comments: ‘We were unaware of the knowledge and information base required by a consultant in doing a significance assessment in what turned out to be a collaborative process. For the Parish’s project, there was a huge task in compiling, as far as possible in the limited time, object files in order for the consultant to determine significance.’
The project was featured in articles in the Goulburn Post, 11 November 2005, 6 March2006, p.4, 29 March2006, p.11; andSt Saviour’s Cathedral Pew Sheet, 20 November 2005, 26 February2006; 5, 12, 19 and 26 March2006.
Contact
Alan Tierney
Honorary Archivist
The Cathedral Parish of St Saviour
PO Box 205
GOULBURN NSW 2580
Tel: 02 4821 2206
Council of the City of Lithgow—EskbankHouseMuseum
Elwing and Gurney Book and Document Conservation Services of Lawson conducted a preservation needs assessment of the Museum’s collection.
The survey examined the environmental conditions, humidity, temperature and light exposure in each of the storage and exhibition spaces on the site,as well as categories of collection objects, and the appropriateness of current storage for each category. The role that handling, maintenance and security have in the care and preservation of the collection was also examined.
Archival storage material including textile boxes and hat boxes was purchased in order to rehouse items in suitable conditions. TheMuseum’s hat collection has been cleaned and rehoused, while a 1912 silk wedding dress as well as various Masonic regalia hasall been properly boxed.
Many photographs and paper-based items of the collection have also been rehoused in appropriate conditions.
Contact
Museum Administration Officer
Council of the City of Lithgow
P.O Box 19
LITHGOW NSW 2790
Tel: 02 6352 1077 (Eskbank House, 6351 3557)
Cowra Shire Council
SharonTowns and Deb Spoehr (conservatrix, Bemboka, NSW) undertook a successful preservation needs assessment of the Pardey Collection of photographs. Implementation of the assessment’s recommendations has begun andarchival-quality materials were purchased. SharonTowns and Deb Spoehr also ran an intensive 3-day workshop to train volunteers in how to catalogue and rehouse items. Kristy Bryant comments: ‘The conservators’ experience in working with volunteers meant they approached the workshop in a very down-to-earth manner.’
Workshop brochures were printed and distributed, and a newspaper article reported on the workshop on 10 November2006.
Contact
Kristy Bryant
Community Projects Officer
Cowra Shire Council
Private Bag 342
COWRA NSW 2794
Tel: 02 6342 2000
Friends of St Clair
Kay Soderlund, Preservation Australia, Enmore, NSW, provided a comprehensive preservation needs assessment of the collection. The organisation was also funded to undertake a significance assessment of the collection. Roxanne Fea, Regional Museum Adviser,will complete the assessmentby 30 September 2007.
Contact
Julianne Sarah
Museum Co-coordinator
Friends of St Clair
C/- Locked Bag 22
GOULBURN NSW 2580
Tel: 02 4823 4448
Glen Innes and District Historical Society Inc
The Society’s project was to implement the recommendations from a previous preservation survey.As part of these new improvements, steel shelvingwas installed in fireproof rooms, and archival storage materials were purchased to house the extensive collection of newspapers, church records, pastoral records, photographs and ledgers.Aphotographic digitisation project has also been started.
There has been some publicity for the project, including Land of the Beardies History House Bulletin, Issue 2, Oct. 2006,with an article;Land of the Beardies History House Newsletter, Oct. 2006.
Contact
Peter Lisberg
Vice President
Glen Innes & District Historical Society Inc.
PO Box 371
GLEN INNES NSW 2370
Tel: 02 6732 1035
HawkesburyMuseum and Tourist Centre
Museums and More conducteda thorough and detailed preservation needs assessment of the HawkesburyMuseum and Tourist Centre’s collection. Following recommendations, archival materials were purchased to start the long process of upgrading the storage facilities within Howes House. Displays are in the process of being reinterpreted, including the removal of delicate items and the re-invigoration of the spaces. Environmental conditions are also being monitored. Collection items are being assessed in regard to their condition and significance. General understanding about museological practices and the need for preventative care for objects has improved greatly.
Publicity included articles in the Hawkesbury Independent, 29 Nov. 2005; Hawkesbury Gazette, 14 Dec.2005.
Contact
Kathleen von Witt
Curator
HawkesburyMuseum and Tourist Centre
PO Box 146
WINDSOR NSW 2756
Tel: 02 4577 3688
Islamic Council of New South Wales
Kay Soderlund, Preservation Australia, Enmore, NSW,conducted a preservation needs assessment of the collection. A care-and-handling-of-documents workshop has been delayed but will be completed in the latter half of 2007.
Contact
Nada Roude
Consultant/Trainer, Educator
Islamic Council of New South Wales
PO Box 423
GREENACRE NSW 2190
Tel: 02 9742 5752
Ku-ring-ai Historical Society
Environmental monitoring equipment has been purchased and installed. Archival storage has been purchased and rehousing has commenced. Volunteers were trained in handling cultural materials and further training will be conducted early in 2007.
An article on the project appeared in the North Shore Times, 23 Nov.2005 and 14 Dec.2005.
Contact
Kevin Callinan
President
Ku-ring-ai Historical Society Inc
PO Box 109
GORDON NSW 2072
Tel: 02 9499 4568
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
A preservationneeds assessmentof the Rail Journeys Museum Werris Creek collection was conducted by Narelle Jarry of Art Conservation Services. The outcomehas lead to a more actively preserved collection, as well as forming the foundation for a preservation policy for future acquisitions, improved care of the entire collection and future training projects. It has also led to better accessibility for the public.
Contact
Cas Barnes
Community Economic Development Coordinator
Liverpool Plains Shire Council
PO Box 152
QUIRINDI NSW 2343
Tel: 02 6746 1755
Moree Plains Gallery
The funded project was for a design for a Kamilaroi keeping place attached to the Moree Plains Gallery. Hill Lockart, Architects, of Tamworth,produced impressive plans for the Kamilaroi Keeping Place.
Katrina Rumley writes in her article on the project in the magazine Arts North West: ‘Around the internal circumference of the rotunda will be waist-height steel storage cabinets, some with glass tops for viewing objects. The cabinets will be airtight and environmentally-controlled by museum-standard crystals and gel similar to the system used for Australia’s copy of the Magna Carta in the federal Parliament House. At floor level and below, the rotunda will house our carved tree collection in special storage boxes. Although the trees are not intended for general viewing, they will be available for special ceremonies of the Kamilaroi people. Lou Swan, Kamilaroi elder in Moree, has been appointed custodian and keeper of the keys to the storage boxes.As with many keeping places across Australia, Moree’s Kamilaroi rotunda will provide a significant means for Aboriginal people to promote, protect and preserve their culture within their own community.Importantly, the Kamilaroi people themselves are actively involved in Moree’s keeping place project and the realisation of the rotunda will be a result of their efforts. The project is a shared responsibility that is aligned to our Gallery’s charter of uniting all peoples through art and culture. Flowing from the project come Aboriginal pride and European understanding.’
Contact
Katrina Rumley
Director
Moree Plains Gallery
PO Box 1108
25 Frome Street
MOREE NSW 2400
Tel: 02 6757 3320
Millthorpe & District Historical Society
Margaret Jolly, Historian and Museum Curator, conducted the significance assessment of the GoldenMemoriesMuseum, which is managed by the Millthorpe Historical Society. The extent of the Fraternal Societies collection was highlighted; however, not all researched items were covered in the report. Kay Soderland, of Preservation Australia, Enmore, completed the preservation needs assessment, which was of great value to the Museum. Digital photos of all objects resulted from the assessment process, which will be of value in promoting and accessing the collection in the future.
Contact
Joyce Pascoe
Secretary
Millthorpe & District Historical Society Inc
PO Box 27
MILLTHORPE NSW 2798
Tel: 02 6366 5049
New ItalyMuseum
A comprehensive preservation needs assessment was conducted by International Conservation Services, Chatswood, NSW. The significance assessment was undertaken by Jenny Skillen.
Contact
Dorothy Sawatski
Secretary and Volunteer Curator
New ItalyMuseum Incorporated
PO Box 29
WOODBURN NSW 2472
Tel: 02 6682 2622
North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club
Project Coordinator Alan Peacock was given approval to vary the approved project plan from significance assessment and preservation survey to a digitisation project.Sydney company, Digital Masters Australia,was contracted to digitise over 8000 pictures, as well as all of the Club’s printed annual reports, club rules and documents of note spanning 1921–2005. This was done at full A3 300DPI resolution 4,500 x 3,000 pixels 24 bits 39MB TIF files.
The images were put on the Club’s website, and the originals have been deposited in the Mitchell Library.
Contact
Tony Hamilton
Office Manager
North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club
PO Box 1
BONDI BEACH NSW 2026
Tel: 02 9130 7677
New EnglandRegionalArt Museum
New EnglandRegionalArt Museum’s (NERAM) project was to conduct a survey of the pest infestation in the galleries and collections store. Alex Roach of Heritage Pest Management surveyed the entire building, tracing the origin of the carpet beetle infestation to a rodent carcass in the storeroom loft. The main collections were vacuumed and dusted prior to the application of the pesticide spray. Nitrogen flushing was then used to treat a number of individual works that showed insect infestation. A variable speed vacuum cleaner was also purchased.
Following this, an integrated pest management plan was designed and implemented, and a workshop for staff and other museum professionals in the region was conducted on 4 January 2006 at NERAM. Data loggers were purchased and installed in each gallery and workroom and will allow staff to knowledgably store and exhibit works where they are at minimal risk to unstable environmental conditions.
Narelle Jarry, the project manager, notes: ‘NERAM staff would like to formally thank the Library and its partners for supporting our institution with this grant. The immediate benefits of the project are already evident and the long-term benefits enormous.’
Publicity for the project appeared in The Armidale Express, 23 November 2005, p.12.
Contact
Janice Lally
Director
New EnglandRegionalArt Museum
PO Box 508
ARMIDALE NSW 2350
Tel: 02 6772 5255
Royal Society of New South Wales
The President of the Royal Society of New South Wales appointed two consultants, Peter J. Tyler, Historical Researcher, and Dr David Branagan, a geologist–historian, to form the CHG Working group. Both consultants worked collaboratively on surveying the significance and preservation status of the collection held at Darlington Road.
The collection was unpacked and shelved and is now ready for cataloguing.Many of the titles were checked against Libraries Australia for other Australian locations. A team of reviewers comprising scholars and esteemed scientists wasalso appointed to act as referees and advisers. This exercise has confirmed the great significance of the collection.
The Royal Society’s website, at has kept a record of progress and some photographs while the Society’s Bulletin has carried progress reports. The ‘Reclaim Science House for Science’ project is attracting a lot of interest.
Contact
Robyn Stuchbury
Council Member
Royal Society of New South Wales
Building H47
The University of Sydney
SYDNEY NSW 2006
Tel: 02 9036 5285
Northern Territory
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association’s (CAAMA) project was a continuation of a previous project involving a preservation survey. This time, CAAMA implemented measures recommended by the preservation survey. As a result, archival-quality CDs and covers were purchased and radio reels were able to be digitised and preserved.