Preserving history: HMAS Parramatta Memorial

A brief history:

• The HMAS Parramatta was the first ship built in 1910 for the fledgling Commonwealth Naval Forces, later to become the Royal Australian Navy.
• The ship served with distinction during the First World War, mostly in Australian and Southeast Asian waters, although she was off Gallipoli for a brief period.
• She was retired from service in 1928 and used in the private sector until it ran aground in the Hawkesbury in 1933.
• The stern and bow were salvaged in 1973. The bow was placed in Garden Island and the stern ended up on the shores of the Parramatta River.

The monument commemorates the service of all ships to bear the name “Parramatta” in the Royal Australian Navy.

It comprises the aft (stern) end of the former vessel, which had been removed from the shipwreck site. The stern was cut from the once intact hull by oxyacetylene torches. The also features descriptive boards which give details of the vessels.

OUR TASK

Dukes was engaged by International Conservation Services, on behalf of Parramatta City Council, to restore and preserve this significant piece of Australian history. 

We also performed some minor remedial works to the surrounding block/rendered areas of the memorial.

After fencing off the construction site, we planned to progress the project stage-by-stage. Our first step was to bring in the preparation and mobile blasting equipment. Next, we cleaned out the site before moving in with our repair and painting set-up.

Here’s an outline of our process:

1. Apply a high-pressure wash to remove salt and other contaminants
2. Use an abrasive blast process to remove rust and scale
3. Apply our Protective Coatings system
4. Repair the render to the supporting structure
5. Apply membrane coatings to all rendered and concrete surfaces

THE CLIENT’S MAIN CONCERNS 

Over the years, there had been significant deterioration to the remaining pieces of the ship. The goal of the project was to protect and preserve as much of the original material as possible.

The main areas of concern were the large pockets of rust surrounding earlier, poor-quality repairs. These sections were dug away, prepared and filled with the appropriate metal filling products. This helped to ensure the repairs lasted and to prevent corrosion.

THE CHALLENGES

• Access to the public site was difficult

The memorial site was a public reserve with no amenities. We needed to bring in all the necessary equipment, right down to the water for pressure washing.

At the same time as the restoration project was taking place, there were roadworks in progress directly adjacent to the memorial. This meant access was tricky.

This approach meant we minimised the impact on the reserve and the public in the area.

• Involving all project stakeholders was vital

With any significant project such as this one, pre-commencement meetings were essential. We met onsite with all clients and stakeholders, including International Conservation Services and Parramatta Council representatives.

From this meeting, Dukes was able to create a works program and schedule based on the client’s needs. From then it was as simple as following the work schedule and keeping the client updated along the way.

THE RESULT

We’re happy to report that the project was completed on time and on budget.

And though there were unexpected issues picked up along the way (the abrasive blasting revealed the poor quality of previous repairs), Dukes was able to accommodate these repairs without having to apply any variation to the quote – always a win for the client!

On top of this, the result was fantastic and exceeded the client’s expectations.

By using the Wattyl protective coating system, we expect the memorial’s current coating to last for another 10 to 15 years.

You’ll find the HMAS Parramatta Memorial at George Street, Queens Wharf Reserve, Parramatta. It’s well worth a visit.