Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This episode of Artisans of Australia showcases the restoration of decorative paintwork in two historic Melbourne homes built in the 1880s, Villa Alba in Studley Park and a private mansion in Toorak.
Featuring interior decorators Elizabeth Stevens and Christine Cooke, the film explores rare techniques including stencilling, marbling, wood graining, tortoiseshell simulation, and gold gilding. These traditional methods are used to revive Victorian and Art Deco finishes with precision and care.
The documentary also highlights the importance of passing on these skills to younger generations, as the artisans train a student in the craft. Their work preserves not only architectural beauty but also the legacy of Australian heritage craftsmanship.
Produced by Film Australia for the Australian Heritage Commission, Artisans of Australia is a six-part series celebrating rare restoration skills that preserve the nation’s architectural treasures. Each episode offers an intimate view of artisans at work, sharing their knowledge and philosophy as they keep traditional techniques alive.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction to Villa Alba and its Victorian architecture
01:00 – Discovering hidden wall decorations using side lighting
02:38 – Ceiling restoration in a Hawthorn mansion
04:12 – Overview of Melbourne’s preserved Victorian homes
04:50 – Marbling techniques and collaborative artistry
07:08 – Marbling the staircase and landing – one of Australia’s largest
07:34 – Teaching the next generation: Sarah learns stencilling
08:00 – Stencil creation and application in the drawing room
09:30 – Wood graining: walnut and pine finishes
10:45 – Simulating tortoiseshell finishes
11:49 – Simulating porphyry stone
12:35 – Gold gilding in the ballroom: ceiling roses, swags, and mirrors
14:00 – Reflections on heritage, beauty, and women’s role in restoration
From the Film Australia Collection, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Title: Artisans of Australia: Decorative Paintwork
NFSA ID: 398632
Year: 1984
Credits:
Produced by Film Australia for the Australian Heritage Commission
Director: Keith Gow
Camera: Kerry Brown
Producer: Elisabeth Knight
Watch the full series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE25345CC43816E9E
Subscribe for more heritage documentaries from the Film Australia Collection: youtube.com/channel/UCBEwcP6rsQSGJ3G869i8-IQ
For reuse and licensing enquiries, please contact: access@nfsa.gov.au
#DecorativePaintWork #VictorianRestoration #ArtisansOfAustralia #FauxFinishes #GoldGilding #Stencilling #Marbling #WoodGraining #HeritageConservation #FilmAustralia #ElizabethStevens #ChristineCooke #VillaAlba #ToorakMansion #AustralianHeritage #1984Documentary
This episode of Artisans of Australia showcases the restoration of decorative paintwork in two historic Melbourne homes built in the 1880s, Villa Alba in Studley Park and a private mansion in Toorak.
Featuring interior decorators Elizabeth Stevens and Christine Cooke, the film explores rare techniques including stencilling, marbling, wood graining, tortoiseshell simulation, and gold gilding. These traditional methods are used to revive Victorian and Art Deco finishes with precision and care.
The documentary also highlights the importance of passing on these skills to younger generations, as the artisans train a student in the craft. Their work preserves not only architectural beauty but also the legacy of Australian heritage craftsmanship.
Produced by Film Australia for the Australian Heritage Commission, Artisans of Australia is a six-part series celebrating rare restoration skills that preserve the nation’s architectural treasures. Each episode offers an intimate view of artisans at work, sharing their knowledge and philosophy as they keep traditional techniques alive.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction to Villa Alba and its Victorian architecture
01:00 – Discovering hidden wall decorations using side lighting
02:38 – Ceiling restoration in a Hawthorn mansion
04:12 – Overview of Melbourne’s preserved Victorian homes
04:50 – Marbling techniques and collaborative artistry
07:08 – Marbling the staircase and landing – one of Australia’s largest
07:34 – Teaching the next generation: Sarah learns stencilling
08:00 – Stencil creation and application in the drawing room
09:30 – Wood graining: walnut and pine finishes
10:45 – Simulating tortoiseshell finishes
11:49 – Simulating porphyry stone
12:35 – Gold gilding in the ballroom: ceiling roses, swags, and mirrors
14:00 – Reflections on heritage, beauty, and women’s role in restoration
From the Film Australia Collection, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Title: Artisans of Australia: Decorative Paintwork
NFSA ID: 398632
Year: 1984
Credits:
Produced by Film Australia for the Australian Heritage Commission
Director: Keith Gow
Camera: Kerry Brown
Producer: Elisabeth Knight
Watch the full series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE25345CC43816E9E
Subscribe for more heritage documentaries from the Film Australia Collection: youtube.com/channel/UCBEwcP6rsQSGJ3G869i8-IQ
For reuse and licensing enquiries, please contact: access@nfsa.gov.au
#DecorativePaintWork #VictorianRestoration #ArtisansOfAustralia #FauxFinishes #GoldGilding #Stencilling #Marbling #WoodGraining #HeritageConservation #FilmAustralia #ElizabethStevens #ChristineCooke #VillaAlba #ToorakMansion #AustralianHeritage #1984Documentary
