Eureka Flag Moved to M.A.D.E The Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka in Ballarat

The Eureka Flag, generously loaned by the Art Gallery of Ballarat, has moved to M.A.D.E. the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, also in Ballarat.

The move was a meticulously planned operation over three days involving eighteen staff including Kristin Phillips, Artlab Australia’s Principal Textile Conservator. Kristin was the team leader for the conservation treatment of the Flag at Artlab in the Textiles section in Adelaide in 2010. During this relocation, Kristin’s responsibility was to care for the Flag and to provide advice on the move in terms of the environment and handling.

Early in the morning, the Flag was removed from its showcase at the Art Gallery on a purpose built trolley and carefully placed into its travel crate. The Flag sat patiently in the crate whilst the showcase was dismantled and rebuilt at M.A.D.E. The showcase includes a sheet of glass 4.3 meters by 2.8 meters which required five men to move it carefully.

Late in the night, the Flag travelled the three kilometers to its new home in a climate controlled truck with security in tow. The truck had suspension ride and the crate included vibration absorbing foam to reduce any vibrations. The flag was left in the crate for thirty six hours whilst it aclimatised to its new location.

On the morning of the 17 April the Flag was gently removed from the travel crate and again placed on its trolley. The team of four, including Kristin, rolled the trolley with the flag into the new display room where it was carefully fitted into the showcase and the glass replaced into the case.

It was a fantastic team effort involving staff from the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Tascho Australian Showcase Company, Thyalacine, M.A.D.E. and Lateral Projects.

M.A.D.E will open on 4 May 2013 with the Eureka Flag forming the centerpiece of the new museum.

The story of the moving of the Eureka was featured in The Courier, Ballarat 23 April 2013, please view link below.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1445166/eureka-flag-moves-to-its-new-home/?cs=62

The Eureka Flag at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka in Ballarat
http://www.made.org/Explore/EurekaFlag.aspx