A seminar looking at the practical care of old timber buildings was presented by the Heritage Council's Technical Advisory Group earlier this year. The Group decided to organise the seminar in response to the many enquiries they had received about maintaining timber structures. Participants to the seminar came from a wide variety of public, private and community organisations. It was held at Rouse Hill Estate, a significant colonial property on the outskirts of Sydney, now managed by the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. Visitors arriving at the Rouse Hill estate are shocked to see rusted vehicles, overgrown fields and peeling paint. Those who come expecting to find immaculate grounds and pristine buildings will at first be taken aback by its run-down appearance. On closer inspection, visitors discover a fragile property resonating with the patina of nearly two centuries of one family's occupation. The estate is being maintained as an essentially undisturbed record of the Rouse and Terrey family's chequered history. Seminar participants watched an enthralling video on the history and subsequent conservation of the property before seeing the site for themselves. Examples of maintenance to the farm's working buildings were discussed. The philosophy of maintaining the old materials has been implemented in everything from a piggery and gazebo, to fence posts and barns.

Rouse Hill House Photograph by Peter Woodley Mr Graham Edds discusses techniques for maintaining timber buildings at the recent TAG seminar. Photograph by Peter Woodley Course participants inspect timber outbuildings on Rouse Hill estate. Photograph by Peter Woodley

Following the morning sessions at Rouse Hill, seminar participants boarded a bus for a tour of timber structures and outbuildings in the Hawkesbury Valley. First stop was Hadley Park, the oldest building remaining in the Nepean Valley and a rare example of an early colonial building still substantially intact. The property was an original 1803 grant, with the main building being constructed in 1812. The area, now part of the Penrith Lakes scheme, will retain the house and future conservation work is planned. Architect, Graham Edds, described the current holding techniques which use easily discernible materials and strapping to stabilise the structure. These techniques have been used pending future conservation works and to allow necessary maintenance to take place in parts of the building, such as the securing of loose roof sheeting. Following the tour of Hadley Park, seminar participants then travelled to Windsor to visit the 1817 St Matthew's Church. This impressive Georgian church is considered to be Francis Greenway's architectural masterpiece. It is one of the finest works of early Colonial architecture remaining in Australia. The interior contains fine cedar joinery, including a coffered ceiling and gallery. Graham Edds led a foray into the timber trussed roof space, where on a hot day (which it was!) temperatures can soar to over 45°c. Misdirected work from an early period of conservation had severed the continuity of the timber roof structure by cutting through the ridge, horizontal beams and other timbers to insert intermediate laminated beams. The 1950s use of copper roofing had failed due to the location's extreme temperature range. Which can fluctuate from as little as 5°c to 45°c in one day. This caused long term expansion and contraction, and eventual failure of the copper. Edds explained that the previous invasive work had been undertaken due to a perceived failing of the roof structure's carrying capacity. He noted that when an engineer had later carried out roof load calculations it was proved that further strengthening of the roof structure had been unnecessary. The church had also carried out conservation works over the years. Unfortunately, in trying to conserve the structure, problems were exacerbated. For example, efforts to straighten original warped timbers resulted in popped nail joints. The current conservation program has endeavoured to bring all the structural linkages back together. Roof cladding has been repaired in order to reinstate an integrated structure. The eastern wall of the historic rectory stables is also being restored following prolonged and severe termite attacks to the original timber beams. Some of the timber was structurally deficient and required replacement. Other original beams were retained and new fixing techniques were employed to secure new timbers to the original beam and stabilise other original timbers. Edd's view is that provided the termites can be subdued, the building's life span will be greatly extended following this remedial work. The Heritage Council's Technical Advisory Group is now planning a technical seminar to be held later this year to address the conservation and maintenance of iron and metal roofs. Rouse Hill estate is located less than an hour's drive from central Sydney along Windsor Road. Contact the Historic Houses Trust or visit the website for details: www.hht.nsw.gov.au

Simple steps to prolong the life of timber buildings

Timber buildings are some of the most characteristic features of the rural landscape. Yet the conservation and care of these simple working structures is often overlooked. Shearing sheds, barns, woolsheds, stables and worksheds built by settlers and farmers in the 19th and early 20th century are a unique part of our heritage. At the Technical Advisory Group seminar held at Rouse Hill estate, participants discussed practical solutions to maintaining and preserving these aging buildings. The practical timber buildings of rural NSW are disappearing. In the 19th century they were the workspaces of the countryside. Often made with materials readily at hand, they were usually simple in their construction and ideally suited for their function. Yet in the space of a generation, these buildings could vanish from the landscape. "We're actually losing a significant historical and architectural layer from our landscape," says Chair of the Heritage Council's Technical Advisory Group, Alan Croker. "These types of timber buildings are no longer built. Now we do everything in steel because its quick and its cheap and termites don't eat it. Timber buildings are considered by many to be obsolete and have been abandoned in favour of alternatives." "If timber structures are still in use, they're often not being repaired and they are gradually rotting and deteriorating through weather and insect attack. Eventually they just collapse." Owners of rural structures are faced with particular problems when it comes to repairing them. Trade and craft skills are in short supply, professional advice is difficult to access in more remote areas and traditional materials are often not available. Timber buildings are under threat from various causes. Termites are a major problem. Attacks by insects such as borers also contribute to deterioration. Simple structures were often built with footings directly in the ground, making rot another serious problem. Environmental factors such as rain, wind and ultraviolet radiation cause further damage. There are simple solutions that can prolong the life of these buildings. Strategies include: selective splicing of new beams to timber posts where they've failed and are structurally important; wire bracing to keep buildings square and to prevent further lean; wiring loose elements in place when fragile. The philosophy behind the approach is to retain as much original fabric as possible and therefore keep the evidence of the building's history and significance with the minimum amount of intervention. Happily this non-interventionist approach is also cost effective. Alan Croker's method is to plan the solution carefully. "Think three times and cut once!" is his practical advice. The Historic Houses Trust's conservation policy for Rouse Hill has embodied this sometimes controversial but non-invasive approach. For a free copy of Wood Preservation or Timber Repairs contact the Heritage Office on (02) 9849 9595/572.