The ‘Longford Academy’ (LA3) is the third in a series of advanced residential short courses on the conservation of traditional structures and heritage collections held at Woolmers and Brickendon Estates at Longford in Tasmania (World Heritage inscribed) to be staged by the APT Australasia Chapter. The course presenters are APT conservation experts in the subjects presented in the course.

The model of the course is collaborative learning and interactive professional development — participants share their acquired knowledge and collaborate in tutorials and practical hands-on activities. The theme in 2012 at LA3 is conservation quality and sustainability. Participants will:

• relax and learn in an environment rich in history in a cultural landscape of World Heritage significance
• investigate significant fabric, finishes and heritage collections
• gain valuable understandings on how to deal with complex challenges and obtain quality conservation outcomes.

The tuition fee of $1,200 ($900 for full-time students and APT members) covers all LA3 activities, refreshments and lunches. Accommodation, which is available on site at Woolmers Estate or Brickendon Historic Farming Village, is an additional cost.  Places may be restricted.

Course bookings via this online form. For further information, contact the convenor by email at apt.australasia@gmail.com or on mobile 0411 165 011.

Download the flyer for Longford Academy 3 to be held 14-18 May 2012.

Read about Longford Academy 2 held in May 2011.

However, the publication has been compiled 2-3 years afterwards, and does not purport to be a literal record of the event. Some speakers produced no written papers, and are not included here, or produced papers subsequently. All have been given the opportunity to revise their material, and some have done this extensively, and some completely new material has been introduced in an attempt to make the document a more comprehensive and useful reference. The resulting papers provide important insights into Victorian stucco: this publication should provide a highly useful and practical reference for anyone interested in the topic.

An attempt has also been made to rationalise terminology, and a glossary is included. But the most contentious word has been ‘stucco’ itself. It is used to mean so many things that no complete agreement can be reached, and this can be a source of great confusion. The word is sometimes used, as in the title of this seminar, as a generic term to cover the whole range of plaster, lime and cement finishing. In reality, however, it has not generally been used in the last two centuries for internal plasterwork, although that was its primary meaning in Renaissance Italy. It has been used loosely in the twentieth century for various ornamental or textured finishes, but this is unhelpful, and is not recommended. In 19th century Australia, it was in general use for plaster, lime and hydraulic cement exterior finishes, but not usually for artificial or Portland cement, and not for castings. In the 20th century most writers have referred to ‘cement’, ‘cementing’, ‘cement render’, ‘composition’, ‘compo’; a few refer to ‘Portland cement stucco’ or ‘cement stucco’; but very few describe a Portland cement finish simply as ‘stucco’. We therefore recommend that any external finish be described by its material if possible, as in ‘hydraulic lime stucco’, ‘Hamelin’s mastic stucco’, ‘Roman cement stucco’. But as this information is commonly unknown for earlier work, where the word ‘stucco’ alone is used, it should be taken to mean external plastering in a material other than Portland cement. Portland cement finishes are better not called ‘stucco’ at all, but rather, ‘cement’or ‘composition’, or possibly (where they are applied by trowel), ‘cement render’. As the matter is so controversial, we include at the end of this publication a series of brief extracts from British and Australian texts, which illustrate the use of the various terms.

This publication was funded and produced by the Heritage Council of Victoria.

The APT Australasian Chapter is delighted with the success of Longford Academy 2, held in Northern Tasmania on 16-20 May.  The feedback from participants confirms that the professional development offered in this program is comparable with the best available in the region.

Longford Academy participants on the portico at Clarendon

This year’s participants included students from four Australian states, as well as from Singapore and New Zealand.

They received formal presentations and guidance from APT Australasia Chapter members Donald Ellsmore and David Young, as well as other tutors Anne Cummins, Chris How, Gemma Webberley and Linda Clark, and venue hosts Louise and Richard Archer (Brickendon), Damian Saunders (Woolmers) and Linda Clark (Clarendon).

Longford Academy participants inspecting a roof at Woolmers Estate

Longford Academy participants inside the woolshed at Brickendon Estate

Longford Academy participants examining rising damp issues at Woolmers Estate

 This year, the Longford Academy included sessions on diagnostics (materials and structural) and stabilisation of structures, as well as environmental influences on deterioration (internal and external).  There were also sessions on surface finishes, addressing issues of soiling, cleaning, repair and stabilisation.

The APT Australasia Chapter envisages that a formal report from Longford Academy 2 will be available later this year.

Longford Academy participants inspecting internal areas at Clarendon

APT Australasia Chapter is aiming to grow the Longford Academy into an important annual event.  It combines formal presentations from recognised experts in their field with hands-on and participative working sessions where students and tutors work together to identify problems and develop solutions.  All of this is carried out in the unique traditional settings of the Brickendon and Woolmers Estates, part of the World Heritage listing for Australian Convict Sites.

The APT collaborative learning model provides outstanding opportunities for R&R for experienced practitioners as well as a great opportunity for less experienced members.  Participants who are not already members of APT (Association for Preservation Technology) can save more than $100 on course registration by joining APT today.

I urge you to give consideration to participating in this ‘course’, or to promote it to your staff and professional colleagues, to enhance your, and their, life-long learning.

There is little distinction between ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ in the APT model of collaborative learning. It is not about teaching. It is about sharing knowledge and learning.

If the cost of travel and accommodation is a barrier for you or others who might wish to join the ‘course’, please look again at the Jetstar and Virgin Blue websites at flights into Launceston. Transport will be available from Launceston. The course venue is only a 10 minute drive from the airport. And although it might be a bit cold for camping, the shared B&B accommodation on site is available for around $70 per night.

Please think about it over Easter and make your commitment to ongoing professional development for yourself and others. Download details for registration, along with the case study notes, for further information. 

I look forward to seeing you there.

Donald Ellsmore
Course convenor
APT Australasia Chapter

Ron Anthony, wood scientist and conservation specialist, and author of the APT Practice Points on Basics of Wood Inspection (2007) and Nondestructive Evaluation: Wood (2010), will headline these symposia to be held on 10 March 2011 at Gulf Station, Yarra Glen, Victoria and 18 March 2011 at NSW Heritage Branch, Parramatta, NSW.

Information about other speakers, to include Professor Miles Lewis, David Young, Donald Ellsmore, Graham Edds and Alan Croker (programme varies between locations), are available in the downloadable details below.

Download details and registration form for the 10 March symposium and masterclass (all day) at Gulf Station, Yarra Glen, Victoria.

Download details and registration form for the 18 March symposium (all day) at NSW Heritage Branch, Parramatta, NSW.

Download details and booking information for the 19 March workshop (10.00-12.00) at Australiana Pioneer Village and Rose Cottage, Wilberforce, NSW.

Enquiries to Donald Ellsmore

SECOND ‘LONGFORD ACADEMY’ COURSE IN ADVANCED CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES: 16–20 MAY 2011

The second APT Australasia Chapter, Longford Academy Course in Advanced Conservation Techniques (LA2) at Woolmers Estate, Tasmania is planned to be conducted over 5 days in May 2011.

Applications for LA2 will close on 30 April 2011 – first notice with details available here.

Further information is available by emailing Donald Ellsmore.  

The outline for the course reflects input from participants in the first Longford Academy held at Woolmers Estate in May 2010. This year’s 5-day program will be designed to incorporate more hands-on activities, including the investigation and analysis of issues to inform the World Heritage sites’ managers to assist them with decision-making.

You are invited to contribute to the course as a participant, organiser and/or promoter. Limited further presentations on the topics may still be accommodated (particularly relevant case studies). 

This year, the course again will be self-funded on the model of income distributed to defray costs and any surpluses shared by the organisers and presenters. The budget presumes 20 student participants, 5 or more presenters, and course fees of $900 ($750 for APT members and full-time students) + travel + accommodation + evening meals. 

If you wish to contribute, please email a brief statement of intent and details to Donald Ellsmore.

Dr Donald Ellsmore
Convenor, Australasia Chapter

10 February 2011

The Forum was organised as part of an ongoing programme of public engagement during the process of redeveloping the Central Market in Hong Kong into Central Oasis.

The Forum was attended by approximately 250 people, representing a cross-section of professionals, heritage conservationists, and interested members of the public.

David, representing the APT Australasia Chapter, was the first of the invited presenters to speak; his presentation focussed on the key challenges in the conservation of reinforced concrete buildings, with particular emphasis about the importance of significance and authenticity in the process of conserving these buildings.  David also outlined the role of APT and the APT Australasia Chapter in assisting with these challenges.

Download David’s presentation with notes

Pamela Jerome gave a polished presentation on the conservation and refurbishment of the Guggenheim Museum in New York, whilst Paul Gaudette gave an information-packed presentation outlining key technical approaches to conserving concrete buildings, with extensive reference to a variety of case studies.

They were followed by a presentation by Tony Read and Kin-Kei Kwan of Arup, who reported on their condition assessment of the concrete structure of the Central Market.

The forum finished with a panel session, in which questions from the audience were answered, mainly by the international speakers.  There were some interesting questions to respond to, which appeared to reflect an increasing public belief in the importance of heritage conservation in Hong Kong.

Key issues as flooded buildings and structures are assessed will include:

• the need to avoid hurried demolition of structures or stripping out of finishes which have suffered flood damage but which retain heritage significance
• recommendation of appropriate methods of cleaning and other conservation works to heritage structures and finishes

A good first reference for dealing with heritage buildings and structures after flooding is the English Heritage technical publication Flooding and Historic Buildings, which is freely downloadable.

Contact APT Australasia for additional resources or assistance.