Rebuilding Macdonnell’s telescope

The National Museum of Australia acquired WJ Macdonnell’s 6-inch refractor telescope in 2005. In the century since Macdonnell sold the telescope, the instrument had passed through   Zoom Macdonnell’s 6‑inch refractor telescope a number of hands. Many parts had been lost or broken, and it no longer looked or functioned as it had when Macdonnell and others used it for scientific work at the turn of the 19th century.

The Museum’s curatorial and conservation staff, in consultation with specialist volunteers, decided to return the telescope to working condition. Some parts were rebuilt or restored to reflect the instrument’s original condition. Other elements, which recorded how the telescope had been used and modified over time, were simply cleaned and stabilised to prevent deterioration.

Use the hotspots to learn about different parts of the conservation process.