March 2nd, 2022Curtain goes down at Trentham

THE historic curtain at the Trentham Mechanics Hall has been taken down for refurbishment.
Trentham and District Historical Society treasurer and project advisory group member Natalie Poole said the curtain’s centrepiece was painted in 1897 by Will Egan and Ed Charlton with the coat of arms in the centre non-traditional. “The animals are facing outwards to be able to run/bounce away – I believe away from the British Empire as the 1897 Colonial Conference was not well received by those from Australia.”
Ms Poole said the proposed refurbishment would include conserving the central coat of arms panel, a section of borders and the museum frame as a unit. It will also include a sample of less decorative cloth housed at the back of the frame.

The process will involve removing surface dirt and particulate contamination from the front and back of the painted panel and borders, and cleaning and consolidating pigments, inscriptions/shield and border sections.
Sections of the curtain – the shield and border – will then be attached to linen and a support. A museum frame will then enclose the assembled curtain.
Once completed the curtain will be on display in the Trentham Library.
Ms Poole said the makeover was being supported by the Trentham and District Historical Society via crowd funding.
If you can help save this piece of history, deposit any amount to the TDHS Appeal Account, BSB 633 000, account number 150731677.