Archival materials are the type of materials used by museums and galleries in their conservation process. For something to be considered archival quality, they need to be resistant to deterioration or loss of quality when kept in control conditions. They should also not cause any harm or reduce the life expectancy of the object associated with it. Hence, if you are looking to preserve something for as long as possible, only use archival-grade materials.

Materials like these are normally only used in museums, galleries, and other specialised institutions because they are often hard to source in small quantities. In our efforts to make conservation more accessible to the public, Endangered Heritage has decided to play the role of a middleman, ordering these archival-grade materials in bulk and breaking them down into smaller and more accessible levels. We want to provide these high-quality products, the kind that is being used in specialised institutions, to the general public.

Our store stocks a range of archival products such as Mylar film, Tyvek sheeting and Softlon foam by the metre, and boxes made to measure. We sell acid-free archival boxes as single units and we have non-acidic and buffered tissue paper which has passed the PAT (Photographic Activity Test).

And if some of these terms don’t make much sense to you right now don’t worry, conservation is a subject that people spend their lives learning. Have a look at our YouTube channel, where we post tutorials and informative videos about most of the products at our store. Or, if you prefer something with a more personal touch, come to have a chat with us and we’ll explain to you everything you need to know.

Note:

The label “acid-free” has various meanings, but none of them requires that a product remain non-acidic over time. While it may be neutral or alkaline now, the paper or board may become acidic over time, despite the label “acid-free”.  

The terms “archival” and “permanent” for paper and board products are supported by Australian and international standards and are the qualities we look for in the lines we sell.

There are no manufacturers of archival or permanent tissue paper in Australia.  We source our supplies and test them on arrival for their archival qualities.