We conserve heritage, because it matters.

International Conservation Services is Australia’s largest private fine art and heritage conservation practice, with labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.  Our world class team of fine arts conservators and heritage experts are dedicated to conserving and caring for your artworks, objects and places of cultural or historical value.

We provide comprehensive cultural heritage services, including  hands on conservation, project management of complex conservation challenges, and planning the care of collections.

ICS acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO

We conserve heritage, because it matters.

International Conservation Services is Australia’s largest private fine art and heritage conservation practice, with labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.  Our world class team of fine arts conservators and heritage experts are dedicated to conserving and caring for your artworks, objects and places of cultural or historical value.

We provide comprehensive cultural heritage services, including  hands on conservation, project management of complex conservation challenges, and planning the care of collections.

ICS acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO

We conserve heritage, because it matters.

International Conservation Services is Australia’s largest private fine art and heritage conservation practice, with labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.  Our world class team of fine arts conservators and heritage experts are dedicated to conserving and caring for your artworks, objects and places of cultural or historical value.

We provide comprehensive cultural heritage services, including  hands on conservation, project management of complex conservation challenges, and planning the care of collections.

ICS acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO

We conserve heritage, because it matters

International Conservation Services is Australia’s largest private fine art and heritage conservation practice, with labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth.  Our world class team of fine arts conservators and heritage experts are dedicated to conserving and caring for your artworks, objects and places of cultural or historical value.

We provide comprehensive cultural heritage services, including  hands on conservation, project management of complex conservation challenges, and planning the care of collections.

ICS acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we work.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO

Key Services

Fine & Decorative Arts
Fine & Decorative Arts
MuralsSculptureFurniture
PaintingsPaperTextiles
Objects & Outdoor Heritage
Objects & Outdoor Heritage
IndustrialArt ObjectsArchaeology
Built HeritageMonumentsPublic Art
Museum & Gallery Services
Museum & Gallery Services
Museum PlanningCollection TechnologyCollections Management
CataloguingPreventive ConservationConservation Planning

Iconic Projects

La Perouse Anchor

Overview The La Perouse anchor is an extremely rare object dating back to the earliest days of European settlement of Australia, namely the visit by two ships of the La Perouse expedition to Botany Bay in February of 1788. After a six week stay, replenishing supplies and recouping before another long journey, Admiral Lapérouse and…

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The Discovery of an Old Master Panel Painting Masquerading as a 19th Century Copy

 Overview ICS won the 2022 NSW National Trust “Conservation – Interiors and Objects” Award for the restoration of this 17th Century still life. The discovery of the true artist and date of the piece made headlines around the world. The still life painting originally belonged to the National Trust’s Woodford Academy collection. Its provenance was…

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Old Parliament House fire-damaged doors

Almost a century old, the solid jarrah doors welcoming visitors into Canberra's Old Parliament House are an integral part of not only the building but national heritage, bearing witness to evolving eras of politics and being the physical backdrop of iconic moments in Australian history. Designed in 1924 by Commonwealth Chief Architect John Smith Murdoch,…

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Mosman’s Bay, Tom Roberts

Overview Mosman’s Bay is an oil on canvas painted by Australian impressionist Tom Roberts (1856-1931) in 1894. Tom Roberts was an influential landscape painter and leading proponent of en plein air painting. His work portrayed everyday scenes of the bush and rural labour. ICS was tasked by NERAM to return Mosman’s Bay to an excellent…

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Central Station Melocco Room

A fire at Sydney’s Central Station was the impetus for the restoration and conservation of this marvellous mid-century Melocco Brothers artwork. The impressive wrap-around wall relief depicts the history of transportation above travertine walling and a beautiful terrazzo floor map of Australia. The Melocco Room is now open to the public. The Melocco Brothers –…

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Birdwood Flag

AWARD WINNING Overview Named in honour of General William Riddell Birdwood (1865-1951) – the commander of the Australian forces on the Western Front during the latter part of WWI – the Birdwood Flag served as the Australian ensign, and was the first recorded, and officially sanctioned, presentation of an Australian flag in the field of…

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Winged Victory

AWARD WINNING Heritage Awards 2015 Conservation Objects and Interior: Winner  Overview Gilbert Doble’s (1880-1945) Winged Victory is a sculpture of Nike, the winged goddess of victory. Holding out a crown of laurel leaves in one hand and a drawn sword in the other, it was created for the top of the Marrickville Soldiers’ Memorial, which…

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Archibald Fountain

Originally unveiled in 1932 – just five days before the opening of the Harbour Bridge – the Archibald Fountain is considered one of Australia’s finest public fountains. Located in the heart of Sydney’s Hyde Park, it was built with the bequest of its namesake J.F. Archibald (founding editor of The Bulletin in 1880). The sculpture…

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Sydney Harbour Bridge Cranes

AWARD WINNING 2011 National Trust Heritage Awards  Conservation for Built Heritage: Highly Commended Overview The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia's most significant landmarks, and one of the most readily recognised symbols of Sydney across the globe. Officially opened in 1932, a distinctive feature of Sydney Harbour Bridge's profile has been the four painting…

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La Perouse Anchor Iconic
The Discovery of an Old Master Panel Painting Masquerading as a 19th Century Copy Award winning
Old Parliament House fire-damaged doors Built heritage
Mosman’s Bay, Tom Roberts Iconic
Central Station Melocco Room Award winning
Birdwood Flag Award winning
Winged Victory Award winning
Archibald Fountain Award winning
Sydney Harbour Bridge Cranes Award winning

Award Winning Projects

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On behalf of the La Perouse Museum and Randwick City Council, I’d like to say thank you very much for all your help, care and problem-solving in the quest to return the Lapérouse Anchor home! We’re immensely grateful for your assistance, it’s a relief and a joy to have the anchor back at the Museum again.

Randwick City Council
- Acting Head, La Perouse Museum

Just a final note to say that all went well with the collection today, and our Queen Victoria Lithograph arrived safely back at Carisbrook Historic House.  Many thanks to you and the team for helping me, and especially to Claire who explained so much about the process and did such a great job with the restoration. Really appreciated.  I do hope that you all have a great Christmas and New Year and many exciting projects in 2021!  Again many thanks

Carisbrook Historic House
- Margaret B

Working with the Melbourne team on preparing ACMI’s Collection objects for the Permanent Exhibition was a wonderful experience. Julian and Kristine attended our storage sites to inspect the objects prior to commencing treatment - this was a great opportunity to discuss our needs for the preparation of our objects for exhibition. ICS undertook work including metal treatments, surface cleaning and structural testing for a variety of objects, such as the beautiful Pye Camera with custom tripod and studio skid. We were lucky to follow up our object treatments with a visit to the Melbourne Lab to review the work completed, which was a wonderful way to gain a greater understanding of the Collection objects’ varying conditions and their ongoing care and maintenance. Kristine, Bruno and the team were a joy to work with; they were communicative, wonderfully skilled and had great time management. We are thoroughly impressed with the work they have done, and how some objects look better than we could have ever expected. A big thank you to ICS Melbourne!

Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Megan Taylor - Assistant Registrar

Wow, another beautiful transformation! Great job by the team, the Newtown War Memorial looks amazing!

City of Sydney
Marilyn B. - Ventia Service Delivery Manager

I have had a happy afternoon unpacking all the works which arrived back and they look fabulous. My particular favorite is the Gruner landscape with cattle, which is now looking so clean and stable and not like it will fall out of its frame at any moment! Thank you particularly for the verso work to protect the labels with Perspex – I will make a point of showing this at the Donor Event when we hold it as I know they will all be fascinated by the efforts around not only the work but frame and other aspects which form part of the history of the work. The Streeton looks beautiful, and the greens on the Bunny are now so much more vibrant and fresh. Thank you to everyone for their beautiful work.

New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM)
- Jennifer Taylor McRae, Registrar & Collections Manager

The 1892 panorama is now on temporary display in the museum many members and guests were captivated by the print and impressed with the high level of conservation works undertaken. Many often discussing the history of the grounds and the birth of the Sheffield Shield following the cricket match that features in the print. Many thanks for your hard work and dedication over the course of the treatment period and framing of the item. It looks fantastic and I'm glad it now has an extra level of protection for many years to come.

Sydney Cricket Ground & Sports Ground
- Anthony O’Carroll

Just wanted to say well done to you & your team on the repair of the Coburn painting. Never imagined you would have been able to repair the damage to the point where it is virtually unnoticeable. And in fact I am happy to replace the word “virtually unnoticeable” to “totally unnoticeable”…. as it is genuinely unnoticeable... Excellent job.

Halmarick Media
- Richard Halmarick

Works received and wow. What an exponential difference. Myself and the team are thrilled. They are truly beautiful and we will house them with care. I am so pleased with your work and wanted to thank you for getting us here.

Goulbourn Regional Art Gallery
Gina Mobayed - Director

Thank you so much for this - it is wonderfully comprehensive and highlights so many of the daily issues we have (and have had for a long time) that will hopefully now be remedied in the new space. Thanks again Fiona - it is really fantastic to finally have all this collated and set-out as a professional review/ recommendation, certainly hard to ignore.

Australian History Museum
Jane Thogersen - Manager

The plaque looks really fabulous having that damaged two inches of green infilling repaired after the more than twenty years or so that this roundel has been in my possession: not to mention the very unsuitable perspex plate it was mounted on. The end result looks magnificent and even the timber grain has come up great in the staining process… you have done this job brilliantly.

David Lemmon
- Private Client

Our Partners

ICS is proud to be the formal conservation partner of these important cultural organisations. We value building long-term client relationships, and the two-way benefits that flow.

Ongoing partnerships allow us to understand and respond to both ongoing and emerging conservation issues. As we get to know your collection and priorities, we are able provide the most appropriate services as and when they are required.


Featured Articles

The remnants of Colonel William Light’s homestead discovered at the old West End Brewery site on Port Road will be preserved in line with expert conservation advice provided to Lion.

Lion commissioned renowned conservation specialists, International Conservation Services, to provide a plan on how best to protect the discovery, working in consultation with archaeologists and...

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5 Minutes With... Mei Wilkinson

In Oct of 2023 Mei Wilkinson, ICS Technology and Collections Coordinator, was the lucky recipient of the George Alexander Foundation Fellowship from the ISS Institute...

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Activism on art – what’s going on and what you can do about it?

Political activists seeking publicity have taken to attacking significant artworks, with the most recent incident at the Art Gallery of WA. As a gallerist or...

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Safe Covid Cleaning Guide for Collections Webinar

ICS collaborated with Sydney Living Museums and Museums and Galleries NSW to present a webinar designed for owners and custodians of precious heritage items that...

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Working with mould-affected objects

Mould affected items can be unsafe to work with.  Loose mould spores can become air-borne, leading to inhalation as well as cross-contamination with other objects. ...

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Light And Fade

Maintaining the value of artworks has a number of characteristics, not least the importance of limiting light damage, most evident in the fading of more...

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Featured Articles


Acknowledgement of country

ICS acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation, the traditional custodians of the lands on which our company is located and where we live, learn and work.

We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders both past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples:

In Chatswood, Sydney: the Cammeraygal and Wallumedegal people of the Eora Nation

In Abbotsford, Melbourne: the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation

In Murrumbateman, Canberra: the Ngunnawal people of Ngunnawal country

In Perth, Western Australia: the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Boodja

We respect their continuing unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.

ICS is honoured to contribute to the preservation of Australia’s Indigenous heritage in the course of our conservation work.

Image: Conservation of The Reconciliation Mural, Muswellbrook