Heritage and Artisan Support Project
The next course will focus on fibrous plastering. For more information contact Mark on (08) 8172 9500
Background
South Australia's heritage architecture is a defining feature of the State. A stroll along North Terrace provides a vision of the foresight and commitment to the built environment among South Australias founders. It is important that the building and construction industry preserves the skills to continue to maintain public buildings and also the magnificent architecture of a significant number of private homes throughout the State. Skills such as stonemasonry, fibrous and solid plastering, decorative finishing, wrought iron, stained glass and traditional methods of timber framing are dwindling while the emphasis in contemporary training in the industry is geared to higher volume skills.
The Construction Industry Training Board has commenced a program designed to preserve a range of rare, heritage and artisan trades. This project aims to attract skilled tradespeople to learn these skills, build the pool of labour to maintain South Australias heritage and to train future generations to create and preserve these buildings.
The first workshop, conducted by Timber Frames of Australia, was held over 5 days in November 2008. The course focused on traditional heavy timber framing, including use of pegged mortice and tenon methods. The end result was a beautiful timber structure to provide a place for visitors to Monarto Zoo to relax in a shaded area. The workshop covered theoretical and practical aspects of traditional timber framing including timber selection and raising of the frame. A permanent story board tells visitors about the tree used for the timber, milling and the skills and methods of construction.
The second workshop also occurred at the Monarto Zoo during October 2009 and focused on Stonemasonry and lasted for 8 days. The CITBs delivery partner was Heritage Stone Restorations SA Pty. Ltd. who conducted 3 days of intense theory and practical training at their Edwardstown workshop and then supervised the 5 days onsite at the Monarto Zoo. The onsite component focused on the restoration of the original homestead, the Bretag Ruins whose family donated the site to the state government in the late 1950s, and taught the participants the traditional skills of using lime mortars, laying random stone and rectifying stone walls in a traditional manner.
In addition to providing practical skills for participants, the workshop process and skills were on display for visitors to Monarto Zoo and promoted careers and interest in the construction industry, in particular the heritage trades.
