- Client
- University Heritage Collection
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Period
- 10 months
The Challenge
A university teaching collection — comprising natural history specimens, scientific instruments and archival material — was required to relocate from its existing accommodation as part of a campus redevelopment. The collection had not been systematically documented, and there was no condition baseline from which to assess movement risk or plan conservation treatment ahead of the move.
Our Approach
Andrew Pearce led a pre-move condition survey and developed a movement risk assessment for each category of material. Items requiring conservation treatment before movement were identified and prioritised. A movement methodology was developed for the most vulnerable items.
Technical Detail
The survey produced the collection's first systematic condition record and a movement risk schedule that enabled the university to plan the relocation in stages, addressing the highest-risk items first. Conservation treatment was completed for priority items before the first movement date.
Outcomes
The collection was relocated without significant loss. The university received its first comprehensive condition record and a storage plan for the new facilities designed to maintain the collection at a higher standard than the previous accommodation had allowed.
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