Current projects in progress:
The City of Ballarat hosts one of the most significant regional public art collections in Australia. Valued at over $20 Million, the oldest piece in this collection was erected in 1867, about 156 years ago. Creative City treats the Public Art Collection as an outdoor gallery with its collection on permanent display. After a careful assessment and valuation of the collection, a proactive maintenance plan has been devised and is currently being implemented.
Boer War Memorial
A project is currently in progress for the removal of the current work and deaccession of the original, and the like-for-like replacement of the work with a bronze cast of the original Boer War Memorial (1906) by James White located in Sturt Street Gardens, Ballarat. Often mistaken for a bronze work, the original work is electrolytic copper deposit method - or copper sheeting over a frame which contains plaster, hessian, metal frames and wire. It is hollow. Many of these copper sculptures were installed across the country in early 1900s, and although the sculpture has gone through intensive conservation and maintenance, time and weathering have taken their toll.
The sculpture has consistently been reviewed. Records show that the work was last removed for conservation in the 1980s (image shown). Since then comprehensive assessment of the sculpture, including a radiographic survey, videoscope internal investigation and structural engineers report, was completed in 2020. Some remedial conservation works were completed at that time.
However time and weathering have taken their toll. This restoration work did not resolve all the issues with the sculpture and the infrastructure of the sculpture is now deemed to be beyond repair. The work is being deaccessioned and a like-for-like replacement from cast bronze is to be installed at the original site.
The essential works in scope include:
Removal of the copper plated Boer War Memorial from the plinth and travel to a repair and assessment site
Deaccessioning of original work
Commission a cast of a like-for-like image of the memorial in bronze, restoration, and replacement of the missing foot
Return to Ballarat and reinstate to the plinth.
X-ray conducted of the internal structure of the Boer War memorial in 2021. The image reveals a hollow core and metal infrastructure which was degrading due to weather. (c) Grimwade 2021
Restoration works on the site in 2021 to address surface concerns and water penetration (c) 2021 Grimwade
The Boer War memorial being removed in the 1980s by Wilson’s Memorials for restoration. (c) Wilsons Memorials
Custom made crate is crafted to protect the fragile Hercules sculpture. Donated by Thomas Stoddart in 1884, the white Carrara marble statues were slowly deteriorating. The Hercules statue was the first to be repaired. Thanks to a welcome donation and support from the City of Ballarat these much loved works are being carefully restored.
Hercules and Stoddart Collection
Hercules was installed in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in 1884. It is a white marble statue and plinth with a granite base and lead alloy inscription. The statue of Hercules exhibits severe structural instability with multiple breaks and failing repairs. In mid- 2023, to prevent further damage, Hercules was removed from the Botanical Gardens and is now housed at the ICS premises where it is going through a detailed conservation process. The works include (but not limited to):
Replacement of doweling systems in breaks
Introduction of fibreglass wedge between statue and plinth
Consolidation of cracks and losses and replacement of failing repairs
Repointing
The rest of the Stoddart Collection currently onsite at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is also undergoing conservation works.