SUPPORT is being garnered for the restoration of an important artefact relating to the Gawler Institute’s establishment in 1857.

The recently formed Gawler Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc has been approached by the staff of the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre to financially support the restoration and display of a painted silk banner, which dates back to the formation of the Gawler Institute committee in 1857.

The banner has been stored away and not seen by the community for many years but is proposed to be a major feature in the next exhibition of the Gawler Civic Centre’s Heritage Gallery, starting in late April.

The exhibition, titled ‘Fire the Cannon’, will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the laying of the Gawler Institute building’s foundation stone in 1870.

Gawler Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc chair Helen Hennessy said the banner has been assessed by conservation specialist Artlab Australia as in remarkable condition for its age, but needs conservation work before it can safely be placed on exhibition.

“The banner has been identified as a rare example of banner work but is in a fragile state, the silk is brittle and there are some splits and tears,” she said.

“For it to be safely displayed it will need to be mounted on a fabric covered board and slightly inclined to provide the necessary support.

“It will also need a specialist padded flat roller to ensure that it can be safely packed away after the exhibition and to ensure that it will be available for future generations.”

The total cost of the project is $7232, with the Foundation aiming to raise half the amount by April.

All donations will be acknowledged and receipted and donors contributing $100 or more will be publicly acknowledged (unless the donor indicates otherwise) at the Fire the Cannon exhibition and receive an invitation to the exhibition opening.

Donations should be marked ‘Banner’ and can be forwarded to ‘Gawler Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc, 52 Cheek Avenue, Gawler East, 5118, SA’ or paid directly to the Gawler Cultural Heritage Fund bank account: BSB 633-000 a/c 170 730 170.

Donations held in the fund cannot be used for normal foundation business.