War Heritage Roadshow: keeping Ararat military history safe in the home

Families from Ararat are invited to show their pieces of war heritage to conservation experts, share their stories and get free advice on cleaning and care on Friday, 20 October.

The event is part of a state-wide War Heritage Roadshow, which is a Victorian Government initiative being delivered by the University of Melbourne Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation.

Letters, photos, flags and souvenirs are among the pieces of wartime memorabilia that will be examined at the Antiques Roadshow-inspired event featuring Australia’s top preservation and conservation experts.

The roadshow is designed to help preserve Australia’s wartime history, from the Boer War to the most recent conflicts, and give families and communities the tools to care for their memorabilia at home.

Grimwade Centre Director Professor Robyn Sloggett said: “Ararat has a long and proud military history. Two Royal Australian Navy ships have been named after the town and servicemen and women from across the region have served in conflicts ranging from Boer War to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The roadshow will help Ararat families learn about their war memorabilia and how it fits into Australian war history.”

Minister for Veterans John Eren said the roadshow is part of the Victorian Government War Heritage and History Strategy to safeguard our wartime legacy for future generations.

"Many Victorians hold wartime artefacts important to their family story – and we want to make sure they can stay safely in family hands,” Mr Eren said.

“The roadshow will provide a wonderful opportunity for Victorians to learn how to care for their precious wartime objects.”

The Ararat War Heritage Roadshow will be held at Pyrenees House, 9-59 Girdlestone Street, Ararat, on Friday, 20 October.