Lismore City Council has announced that International Conservation Services (ICS) has been appointed to restore the iconic Hannah Cabinet, damaged in the 2022 natural disaster.

The much-loved Cabinet was among 1400 artworks damaged by floodwaters. By luck, as the flood waters rose, the Cabinet fell onto its back, with the ornate front face avoiding direct water contact and any major damage. 

(The Hannah Cabinet in the flood aftermath. Photo: Mia Forrest courtesy of Lismore Regional Gallery)

Master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM worked on the Cabinet for six-and-a-half years before it was purchased for $1 million following a community fundraising campaign.

The Cabinet is made in the traditional European style. It comprises 34 solid timbers and veneers, four kinds of rare shells, and 17 varieties of precious and semi-precious stones. The main frame is made of mahogany, and the columns are made of ebony. 

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg welcomed the news that the restoration was now underway and the Hannah Cabinet would return to Lismore.

“The fact that the community helped to raise funds to purchase the Cabinet so that it would stay in Lismore shows how much it is loved,” he said.

“Like the reopening of the Lismore Regional Gallery, the return of the restored Hannah Cabinet will be welcomed by our community. The only question now is where we locate this important cultural asset once it is restored.”

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Patinations Conservation Services worked to stabilise the deterioration of the Cabinet and undertook initial restoration work. Its director, Greg Peters, has a long-standing association with master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM and is a highly experienced furniture conservationist.  

The full cost of the restoration work is covered by insurance.

Greg Peters stated: “It was devastating to see the condition of the cabinet when we received it into our workshop. But with decades of experience of restoring national treasures and incorporating traditional techniques with state-of-the-art conservation equipment and methodology, our results to date have been extremely pleasing.”

Mr Hannah is pleased that the Cabinet is finally on the way to being fully restored.

“It was heartbreaking to see it immediately after the flood,” he said. “Following restoration work by Mr Peters and Mr Fardon, I am confident the cabinet will be back to its original state. It will be a wonderful day when the public will be able to see it again.”

The initial stabilisation phase included successful cleaning, drying, and repeating remediation treatments. The next phase of this massive restoration task involves almost completely dismantling the cabinet and meticulously re-adhering veneers.

ICS’s Julian Bickersteth AO, who will oversee the works, is trained in furniture conservation and has been closely involved in the Gallery’s collection recovery.

“Amidst the devastation of the Lismore floods, the fact that the Hannah Cabinet not only survived but was restorable has been a positive that we have held onto,” he said.

“Managing that restoration project is a great privilege, and we look forward to having this unique and extraordinary cabinet back on display.”

Geoff Hannah will be directly involved with the restoration by consulting and guiding Colin Fardon, his colleague whom he has mentored for over 18 years. Mr Fardon and Mr Peters will be responsible for the re-French polishing and re-gilding phases of work, including any repairs, the final assembly, and adjustments of timber components for proper operation. 

Mr Fardon looks forward to the task ahead.

“I was fortunate enough to see the Hannah Cabinet being created over six years. It has been the single most inspirational piece to me and my career. To now be asked to work on the restoration is an honour. I am ready for the many challenges ahead and look forward to seeing it proudly on display looking amazing again,” he said.

Lismore Regional Gallery Director Ashleigh Ralph said the Cabinet could not be in better hands.

“It has been a long journey to get to this point, and I’m thrilled the recovery of the Cabinet is in the expert hands of Bickersteth, Peters and Fardon, and Hannah himself,” she said.

“I know it will be restored to its former glory, with the story of Lismore now embedded in its legacy.”

Once the Cabinet is fully restored and assembled, it will be returned to the care of Lismore Regional Gallery. This could take up to two-and-a-half years.

In the meantime, the Hannah Cabinet inspires as one of the Gallery’s major exhibitions, Hannah Halle, currently on display until 17 November.

The artist duo, The ArtHitects, have created an immersive space with over 4,000 sheets of A4 paper. The exhibition symbolically reimagines the Hannah Cabinet, including original drawings by Geoff Hannah and contributions by Lindy Lee AM, Bronwyn Bancroft, Daniel Browning, Aris Prabawa, and many more local artists.