Mackay Slab Hut

Overview

The slab hut is a rare surviving example of early rural construction in the Pioneer Valley.

International Conservation Services (ICS) was engaged by Queensland Museum to assist Mackay Regional Council with the relocation and conservation of a historic timber slab hut located at the Pioneer Valley Museum in Mirani, QLD.

As a rare surviving example of early rural construction in the Pioneer Valley, the construction offers valuable insights into traditional timber-slab building techniques and local settlement history.

The project followed a site assessment in May 2024,with the goal to document, dismantle, treat and stabilise the surviving components of the hut for future storage and interpretation at Greenmount Homestead.

Year

2024-2025

Client

Queensland Museum

Services

  • Built Heritage

Awards

Condition

  • Evidence of biological and insect damage
  • Increased moisture levels in timber slabs

Treatment

  • Documentation of the slab hut, to understand the significant components and prepare for disassembly and transport
  • Dry out and treat insect and biological damage
  • Stabilise and preparation from storage and display

Outcome

The slab hut was successfully conserved with the retained elements now preserved for storage and future interpretive display.

Before treatment

During treatment

After treatment

Testimonial

Close-up of two orange terracotta figurines with white decorative patterns, one facing forward and the other in profile.

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