Heritage Conservation

What is heritage conservation?

Heritage conservation is the maintenance and management of changes to a heritage asset such as a building or memorial. This can be for significant enhancement of the asset such as a structural addition or, general maintenance and cleaning to preserve the assets structural integrity and appearance and importantly retaining the cultural significance and original fabric of the asset.

Purpose of heritage conservation

Maintaining and enhancing heritage assets has a big impact and benefit to the economy and the assets local community. From tourism to jobs, education to recreation. Heritage conservation ensures the quality of life within its neighbourhood is improved. There are many policies and legislation regarding the protection of heritage assets.

Cost of heritage conservation

The cost of conservation to a heritage asset can vary quite dramatically. Unfortunately, there cannot be a set or flat price as there are a
number of factors that determine how much the conservation will ultimately cost. Some of these factors include:

Level of Decay

If the asset has been preserved and conservation carried out regularly the level of decay will vary. The age of the asset and how often it is exposed to the elements will also affect the level of decay.

Construction Material

What the asset is currently made of and how hard it is to source the same material as well as the state that the current material is in will factor into the costs.

Construction Type

There are many different ways to carve a stone, just like there are many different ways to lay them. Depending on the type of construction used during the asset creation this will also be a cost factor.

Man Hours

Due to the level of decay, construction material and construction type will determine the number of man-hours needed in order to complete the conservation.

Example

The corner of a carved stone wall is decayed past the point of repair, a replacement of the stone will be required. The stone used at the time of construction was quite common but is now rare and hard to source. Once a replacement stone is found it then needs to have the same carving from the original replicated onto it, so it flows with the rest of the wall. It isn't possible to CNC the stone due to its shape resulting in it taking 36 hours for the carving to be completed by hand.

(This is an extreme example but shows how impossible it would be to give a flat fee).

Conservation showcase

Replacement of a deteriorated buttress weathering, St Paul's Church, Spring Hill

Our remaining masonry buildings are a reflection of the past. These buildings were built by stonemasons using traditional techniques. In order to conserve these historic buildings traditional stonemasonry skills are again required.

All Saints Church Restoration

Queensland Heritage Masonry has stonemasons trained to protect and conserve Queensland’s built heritage for future generations to enjoy. Safety audits are carried out on buildings to ensure safety for passing pedestrians below and to ensure good asset management.

Walter Hill Fountain Restoration

Queensland’s monuments and structures remind us of important historical events or people. As time passes and they deteriorate, we can risk losing their significance, conserving these pieces of history are important. Queensland Heritage Masonry has the expertise to ensure future generations will continue to enjoy their beauty and cultural significance.

Your local stone specialists

Finding a company you can trust to conserve your heritage building can be quite a tough task. Queensland Heritage Masonry is licenced under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. We can undertake any heritage conservation project, large and small, and treat every asset with the utmost care.

Heritage Conservation Gallery

Have a heritage building?

Finding the right company to conserve your heritage building can be quite a tough task. Queensland Heritage Masonry can undertake any heritage conservation project and treat every asset with the utmost care.

At a recent meeting of St Paul' Presbyterian Church Committee of Management, the great service and generous support you continue to provide to ensure that our heritage buildings are restored and maintained was acknowledged.
As you would be aware, we are very proud of our beloved "Kirk on the Hill" but the cost of restoring and maintaining it can be overwhelming at times. However, the knowledge that we are receiving such a high standard of service from your company accompanied with such acts of great generosity and good will continue to encourage us.

St Paul's Committee of Management