Old Parliament House (OPH) is a nationally significant heritage building located in Canberra's parliamentary zone. The building was home to the Federal Parliament from 1927 to 1988, making it an important part of Australia's democratic traditions.

Today, OPH is home to the Museum of Australian Democracy , an enriching institution that informs the public of Australia's constitutional, political and social history. 

ICS and OPH

ICS have been involved in conserving both interior and exterior elements of OPH for many years. We were recently commissioned to conserve the two painted coat of arms’ (one British, one Australian) that sit atop the front façade of the building. 

Condition

Both coat of arms’ were last treated in the early 1990's. Since then, their paint and gilding had deteriorated considerably. After many years of exposure to the elements, significant amounts of dust, dirt, pollution and bird droppings had accumulated on both structures, accelerating their deterioration. 

Treatment 

• Cleaned off dirt and debris using a brush and damp cloths
• Scraped off loose material, wiped down surface and washed again to remove any remaining dust and debris
• Infilled cracks and losses 
• Sanded and sculpted fills to match surrounds, and primed filled areas ready for repainting
• Repainted and re-gilded both coat of arms’