We regularly host workshops under the direction heritage professionals to provide an active forum to collaborate in sharing, strengthening and celebrating heritage conservation skills. Como Approach workshops are an initiative of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) to use conservation works projects at our properties to demonstrate best conservation practice and create meaningful learning opportunities for trades, professionals and the general public.

Upcoming Workshops

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Sash Window Workshop with Ian Goddard

Friday 3 March 2023

Cheltenham

Join us in a private joinery business for a workshop which will cover an introduction to working with timber, a brief history of the sash window and an overview of the construction, installation and repair of sash windows. As this event is mostly lecture based, no prior skills are required to attend. However, those with carpentry experience who would like to understand more about how to work on sash windows will find this workshop particularly rewarding.

The session will end with a Q and A with the instructor, Ian Goddard, who has over 35 years’ experience in joinery and cabinet making in both in Australia and the United Kingdom where he originally trained. All participants receive digital certificates of completion at the conclusion of the workshop and an information sheet.

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Lime Mortar Workshop with Ray Wiltshire

Friday 17 March 2023

Barwon Grange

Ray Wiltshire is a highly knowledgeable and skilled Heritage Plasterer with many years’ experience in the industry. He is also a regular trainer at the Longford Academy in Tasmania. Previous lime mortar workshops held at Como and ran by Ray were very well received.

This workshop will be hands-on, allowing participants to repoint a section of wall at Barwon Grange. All participants with receive digital certificates of completion at the conclusion of the workshop.

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Architectural Glazing and Glass Conservation

26 May 2023

Waller House

Bruce Hutton founded Almond glass in 1994. He completed a Fine Arts Degree (Chisholm Institute of Technology) majoring in stained glass in 1988, he then went on to work in the industry both in Australia, England and South Africa. He completed a Postgraduate (Monash University) in 1996, focusing on the conservation and restoration techniques of stained glass.

This workshop will be mostly theory based and cover a history of glass and glazing, installation, decoration, maintenance and repair but will also have a practical component regarding the application of linseed oil putty. A short house tour will also form a part of this workshop.

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Past Workshops

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Repointing Mortar Joints Workshop

Como House, South Yarra

Outcomes included familiarity with lime, sand and aggregate selection processes, practical awareness of materials preparation and use including tool handling and heritage philosophy as to the extent of pointing intervention

Timber and Sash Windows Workshop

Private workshop

This workshop covered an introduction to working with timber, a brief history of the sash window and an overview of the construction, installation and repair of sash windows. The session will ended with a Q and A with the instructor, Ian Goddard, who is a joiner with many years' experience both in Australia and the United Kingdom where he did his training.

Repointing and Masonry Workshop

Como House, South Yarra

This practical hands on workshop was focused on performing repointing and masonry repair to the east wall of the original coach house at Como House in South Yarra.

Architectural Finishes Workshop

Como House, South Yarra

This two day workshop covered a variety of areas relating to exterior finishes to heritage buildings, including architectural finishes investigation, understanding stucco, paint removal techniques, the conservation of stucco and re-finishing techniques. It was led by experts in the area including Conservation specialist Donald Ellsmore and plasterer Ray Wiltshire.