Overview

The Anglican church of Christ Church Bong Bong in the NSW Southern Highlands was built in 1845 on the estate of local landowner Charles Throsby (1799-1854).

Throsby’s wife Elizabeth ‘Betsey’ Broughton (1807–1891), mother to their 17 children and one of only five survivors of the 1809 Boyd massacre, commissioned the fine decorative interior of Christ Church in 1884. This included the stained glass and installation of a mahogany organ.

ICS was commissioned to conserve the entire painted scheme, including the stencil work on the ceiling and walls.  In the process we discovered and recreated other details that had been painted over such as gold circles and fleurs-de-lis.  A small section was left to show the pre-restoration condition.

Condition

Over the century since its inception, the entire paint work had gradually deteriorated and discoloured.

Treatment

The conservation task was to reveal the church’s original atmosphere without losing the charm of history’s patination. This included:

• Cleaning, extensive stabilisation and consolidation of original decorative paintwork
• Repainting of the main body of the church following the original two-toned form separated by the dado rail
• Recreation of the original oak graining on the window frames
• Recreation of decorative paintwork that had been previously painted over, using reversible acrylic paint
• Repolishing of plaques, waxing of pews and minor restoration works to the organ case
• Installation of a purpose designed lighting system and sound system