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The Challenge
The Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society needed to upgrade their archive shed to better preserve their valuable historical collection.
Established in 1956, the historical society maintains a comprehensive archive of the area’s rich local heritage. The archive includes a wide range of documents such as photographs, books, and various written records spanning from the early settlement period of 1825 onwards.
The existing old fibro shed was in poor condition with malfunctioning roller doors and a possum inhabiting the space, making for unsanitary storage conditions for their venerable collection.
A new shed was needed to address multiple preservation needs, from temperature and humidity control, to protecting against dust and pests. It also needed to meet the Development Authority’s requirements for storing heritage items.
The project involved obtaining a grant, working with Great Value Garages, and navigating complex State Government planning portal requirements to create a suitable storage solution for their collection.
Bondor’s InsulRoof® panels provided the specialised insulation and fire rating requirements needed to protect and maintain the historical society’s collection.
The Solution
For Great Value Garages, this project pushed the boundaries of the company’s traditional shed-building expertise. Unlike their standard builds using corrugated iron or weatherboard-style sheeting, this project marked their first complete shed using insulated panels for both walls and roof.
The archive storage facility required highly specialised technical specifications, including a precise R5 insulation rating and specific fire protection standards.
These unique requirements demanded significant engineering adjustments and a completely new approach to shed design, moving well beyond their usual construction methods.
Having previously used Bondor products in carports, the company was familiar with the brand and knew they could provide the right panelling. After consulting with Bondor, they confirmed InsulRoof® panels would meet the critical protection requirements for storing historical documents.
The completed archive shed is a 6x9m structure, standing 2.4m high with a 30-degree roof pitch, a waterproof concrete floor, properly closing roller doors, and improved structural design that prevents pest entry.
It houses a unique collection of historical items such as glass negatives from early photographer Joseph Docker, portraits of early settlers, and some Aboriginal artifacts. The new shed will also house small pieces of historical furniture and other museum collection items that are not currently on display in the historical society’s main museum space.
By constructing the new, specially insulated shed, the Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society have ensured the area’s valuable historical records and artifacts are safeguarded for future generations.
The insulating properties of the Expanded Polystyrene with fire-retardant (EPS-FR) core, together with an airtight joint, makes InsulRoof® panels an ideal solution for preserving the story of Scone and the Upper Hunter.
