Material & artefact conservation

Artefact conservation

Why does Heritage Victoria practice artefact conservation and have an artefact collection?

When development is proposed on a significant archaeological site on land, a consent is usually issued on condition that an archaeological excavation is carried out, the site is documented and any artefacts are retrieved. See the permits page for more information.

Artefacts are removed from historic shipwrecks by maritime archaeologists to protect them from physical danger or from looting. Other valuable shipwreck artefacts were handed in during 1993 when an amnesty was declared on artefacts from historic shipwrecks.

During alterations to a registered building or garden, samples of materials, construction techniques or artefacts may be removed. Artefacts from all these sources are conserved in our laboratory and then kept in the collection and used for research, education, publicity and displays.

What are some of the most interesting objects in Heritage Victoria's collections?

• Toilets from "SS City of Launceston ", wrecked in 1865. These have very ornate blue and white ceramic bowls and lead surrounds .
• Archaeological champagne, wine, salt pork and oil dating from c.1840.
• Crockery and cutlery.
• Servants' bells c.1840
• Building materials e.g. nails (datable), unused Minton tiles, slate ventilator grill
• Children's toys made of pipe clay.

Can I access the collections?

The collection may be viewed by members of the public and students by appointment. Generally groups are preferred for lab tours. The lab holds open days twice a year where the collection can also be viewed. Objects are also available for loan to other organisations for exhibitions. From time to time artefacts may be available for loan to teachers.

If a historic building is demolished or altered, should I send samples of historically interesting or significant features to the Heritage Victoria collection for preservation and reference?

Yes. In the same way that buildings, sites and places are registered based on their significance according to agreed criteria, artefacts are added to the Heritage Victoria collection if they are considered to be significant based on the same criteria.

Each item is examined on a case-by-case basis according to Heritage Victoria's collection policy. Even if we are unable to accept an item we can advise of an institution who may be able to take it.

Archaeological Artefacts Management Guidelines
The AAM guidelines were developed to assist archaeologists who are preparing artefact collections for submission to the conservation laboratory. The guidelines specify how artefact catalogues should be prepared, and how artefacts should be processed, labelled and packed. Be aware that artefacts or object catalogues will not be accepted unless they comply with these guidelines.

Archaeological Artefacts Management Guidelines (361kb)

Material conservation

What is materials conservation?

It is the art and science of preserving cultural artefacts and materials to ensure their survival for future generations. Materials conservation is a technical activity based on knowledge of the structure and chemistry of artefact materials. It includes treatments to stabilise and repair artefacts, researching treatment materials and the preventive care of artefacts.


What types of materials can be found at heritage places?

• Architectural ceramics (tiles, chimney pots)
• Coatings (signs, graining, varnish)
• Wood (furniture, interior fittings)
• Stone (headstones, sculpture, gargoyles)
• Metals (sculpture, commemorative plaques, cast iron fencing/lace, roofs)
• Glass (leadlight, stained glass)
• Textiles (carpets, wall-coverings)
• Paper (wall paper, drawings)
• Modern materials (linoleum, rubber)
• Electrical items (light fittings, signs)
• Artworks (oil paintings, wall paintings, watercolours)
• Photographs (portraits, documentation)
• Historic shipwreck material (waterlogged and corroded artefacts)

What sort of advice can a conservator offer?

They can advise on how to care for materials (non-structural) from registered places. This may be advice that an owner or custodian can apply themselves or a referral to an appropriate materials conservation consultant. The conservator might also be available to visit a place and assist with project briefs or artefact proposals and treatments.


Who is this advisory service available to?

• Owners and custodians of registered places.
• Nominated custodians of shipwreck materials under the Commonwealth Amnesty scheme
• Consultants or tradespeople carrying out work under a Heritage Victoria permit or funding program
• Staff of regional and local historic and maritime museums with collections relating to Victoria's registered places
• Local Government heritage advisers and employees.
• Management committees for places on the Heritage Register.
• Staff of other State heritage agencies.

Others will be referred to appropriate organisations.

Conservation lab

Heritage Victoria, as part of the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD), operates the only archaeological conservation laboratory in Victoria. The conservators at the laboratory are available to advise heritage consultants, owners of registered places and registered custodians of shipwreck artefacts on the preservation of artefacts and materials associated with registered sites.

Artefacts regularly enter our collection having been retrieved from archaeological sites on land, from shipwrecks, or from other registered heritage places.

The lab has several roles:

• Management of Heritage Victoria's collection of artefacts from land archaeological sites, shipwrecks and buildings with the aim of making it more accessible for public access, research and exhibition.
• Advice and analysis on artefact and material conservation issues in historic buildings and sites.

What types of artefacts are conserved at Heritage Victoria's laboratory?

Most artefacts are from archaeological sites both on land and underwater, but some are from buildings and cemeteries. These include a wide range of materials and some examples include:

• Ceramics (crockery, pipes)
• Glass (bottles, window glass)
• Metals (cutlery, copper alloy portholes and ships' hull fastenings, lead plumbing)
• Leather (shoes, saddlery)
• Wood (floor boards, cork, pork barrels, waterlogged ships' timbers)
• Textiles (clothing, rope)
• Paper (bottle labels)
• Stone (ballast, marble)
• Archaeological foodstuffs (wine, oil, oyster shells, livestock and fish bone)
• Building materials (stone, bricks, wall plaster)
• Archival materials (plans, photographic slides)

Submitting artefacts to the lab

Archaeological Artefacts Management Guidelines (361Kb) have been developed to assist archaeologists who are preparing artefact collections for submission to the conservation laboratory. The guidelines specify how artefact catalogues should be prepared, and how artefacts should be processed, labelled and packed.


Does the laboratory perform treatments for artefacts which are not part of its collections?

Yes, however the laboratory only treats non-collection artefacts which cannot be treated by Victoria's private conservators. Currently these are archaeological materials from land and sea sites. A fee may be charged for the work.

Conservation lab tours

Ever wondered what happens to relics collected from historic shipwrecks or archaeological digs around Victoria? Now is the time to be part of a tour and see inside Heritage Victoria’s conservation laboratory, where artefacts are carefully studied, conserved and stored, before going on public display in exhibitions, museums or elsewhere.

There are approximately 45,000 artefacts at the lab, about 35,000 of these have been recovered from archaeological sites including Casselden Place and Viewbank, while about 10,000 have been recovered from shipwrecks such as the Loch Ard and the SS City of Launceston.

Artefacts range from ceramics and coins dug from long forgotten cess pits in the Melbourne CBD, to elaborately decorated fixtures, including an ornate toilet from the once luxurious steamship SS City of Launceston.

Visiting Heritage Victoria’s lab will help you learn about how such items are handled and the processes used to conserve them at the only Victorian archaeological laboratory open to the public.

The laboratory is staffed by a team of professional conservators and archaeologists who have been based at the facility since it opened in June 2002.

The one-hour tours will be limited to 10 people and will be conducted by either an archaeologist or conservator (or both), who have first hand experience of working on sea or land sites, and/or with maritime or archaeological artefacts.

Bookings for group tours are essential - please contact Heritage Victoria on (03) 9415 4402. Tours are free, limited parking is available on site.