Archaeological investigations
In late 1996, plans were drawn up for the development of the Eureka Discovery Centre in the City of Ballarat. Heritage Victoria required that an archaeologist be engaged during the works to monitor any significant archaeological deposits that might be exposed.
Archaeological investigations were carried out at the Eureka Precinct site by Dr Vincent Clark between December 1996 and mid 1997. A number of archaeological artefacts and features were uncovered during the works, including an abandoned mineshaft. The archaeologist recovered an assortment of artefacts from the mineshaft including a small percussion type revolver. Although corroded and heavily concreted, the firearm was identified as a pepperbox pistol.
The pepperbox pistol
The percussion pepperbox unearthed at Ballarat is of a common type, being of the self-cocking, bar hammer, six barrelled variety, and comprises a number of component parts made from metal and wood.
The solid cylinder of metal, machined from a single block of steel features 6 bores or barrels, known as the barrel group (A), and is mounted on a rod (B) which screws into the standing breech (L) on the frame, located beneath the hammer (F). The barrel group rotates around the rod and is secured to it by one pan-headed screw at the muzzle end.
KEY
A Barrel group (6 bore)
B Central rod
C Nipple (vent hole)
D Trigger
E Trigger guard
F Bar hammer
G Trigger/hammer mechanisms
H Frame
I Trigger spring
J Main spring showing fracture
K Screw & nut assembly
L Breech (dotted)
Radiograph of pistol (2003)
Conservation
After the pistol was first excavated, it was placed in a sealed container in cold storage at Heritage Victoria's Conservation Laboratory to stabilise its condition.
The inner workings of the pistol were not visible prior to conservation treatment, however x-rays taken in 1997 revealed that the main spring located within the handle had been fractured but the other springs appeared to be intact.
From July 1999 the pistol was displayed (again in cold storage) at the Eureka Stockade Discovery Centre until funding became available for its conservation in April 2003.
Pistol before conservation
When examined by Heritage Victoria's Conservation Laboratory in 2003, the pistol was still muddy and damp, although it appeared to be intact. X-rays were taken again in 2003 but no discernable differences or changes in condition could be detected.
In September 2003 Barbara O'Brien (Conservator- Heritage Victoria) and Richard Garcia (Conservator-Western Australian Maritime Museum) undertook conservation treatments on the pisol. The pistol was transported to the Western Australia Maritime Museum Conservation Laboratory and a collaborative conservation treatment undertaken by Heritage Victoria's Conservation Laboratory, and the Western Australian Maritime Museum.
The aim of treatment was to clean the pistol to enable a closer examination of it and to improve its overall appearance. The conservation treatment also aimed to stabilise the pistol so that it would not deteriorate further. In addition, it was hoped the pistol could be dismantled to allow investigation and conservation of its internal components.
Pistol after conservation and before reassembly
Careful conservation treatment of the pistol enabled it to be stabilised and resulted in a vast improvement to its external appearance. Removing the external concretions meant that the pistol could be dismantled and its internal components were investigated and treated appropiately. Finally, a custom-made box using archival materials was fabricated for support and the pistol was returned to Heritage Victoria's conservation laboratory.
Although some components of the pistol remain concreted due to their fragility, the pistol generally appears to be stable and will continue to be monitored by Heritage Victoria's conservation laboratory.