Eureka Flag - During Treatment
The treatment of the flag is well underway. The flag is at present placed on a specially constructed table to enable it to be raised on a slope. This table was designed and constructed by Justin Gare, Senior Objects Conservator at Artlab. The sloped surface enables the textiles conservators to work comfortably whilst they are undertaking the arduous task of fine stitching.

Treatment of the Flag
The Flag will be fully lined with a new wool fabric lining. In the areas that require stitching, the loose threads are carefully aligned and pinned into place using fine entomological pins. The conservators then use a couching stitch with a polyester thread finer than a human hair meticulously hand stitching each loose thread in position. Additional support stitching is undertaken throughout the Flag as required. Once the stitching is complete the Flag will be fully supported onto the new lining. The stitching will take over 300 hours.

In February, Greg Mackie, Deputy Chief Executive of Cultural Development in the Department of Premier and Cabinet with Artlab staff, welcomed the Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Craig Fletcher; Chief Executive Officer, City of Ballarat, Anthony Schinck; Mrs. Joy King and other guests to Artlab. Interestingly, Joy King’s family are descendants of Trooper John King who claimed the Flag after the uprising on Bakery Hill in 1854. The group travelled to Adelaide to visit the Textiles Conservation team for a progress update of the Flag during this stitching process.

The next stage of treatment is to attach the Flag to a custom made aluminium backboard.

Eureka Flag 1854
Wool cotton
City of Ballarat