The relocation and restoration of a Margaret Priest sculpture for the Department of Communities were completed in 2020.

AS Perth was initially contracted as a consultant to provide advice and guidance to the Department of Communities and project engineer in the planning and implementation of the movement of the artwork. We were then contracted to conserve the bronze sculptural elements and restore the old, exposed aggregate stepped plinth.

This artwork provides a good example of our approach to any given project to provide the best outcome for your particular needs. Having no records of the construction of the plinth and signs of cracking and some loss of the concrete, many issues were considered as potential hazards to the work, including the plinth crumbling in the lift from its location, destroying itself and the bronze components. Due to so little construction information apart from what was visible, an investigative approach was conceived between the engineers and AS Perth.

Each investigation allowed a better understanding of how to proceed, leading to the best-case scenario where the work and the plinth were lifted from its old location in East Perth with a steel frame under the work and its concrete plinth providing the support. This frame was then installed with the work in its new location in Fremantle. Once the movement of the work was complete, AS Perth proceeded with the conservation of the bronze sculptural component, which appeared to have over 20 years of neglect.

Due to the tight space and location of the work in front of the Department of Communities’ new building’s main entrance and OHS concerns for pedestrians, the client requested that no EWP be used. Instead, a tiered scaffold was installed to allow for simple and comfortable access to the top of the work during the laborious process of removal and application of patina products. The final part of this project was the most difficult. The restoration of the plinth required several initial tests with various products, poultices, and techniques to achieve the best results.

Due to the poor aesthetic condition of the plinth with severe green/ brown staining and several areas of cracking and loss, a less conservative approach was adopted. Due to the nature of this work, it had to be completed over several dry days during a weekend in the middle of winter before the end of July. AS Perth implemented a plan to allow the project team and contractors to complete the works over a period of 4 weekends on the best days predicted for no rain.

The works were completed on time and to budget a week before the end of June 2022.