QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Mephisto’s amphibious recovery

When the Brisbane River broke its banks in January 2011, water flooded the outer areas of the Queensland Museum (QM) at South Bank, including the enclosure where Mephisto was displayed; Cathy ter Bogt has been leading the dedicated team of conservators who have been cleaning him up, and tells their story.

At the peak of the flood the water level covered the tracks of Mephisto , approximately 70cm above ground level. It took over two days for the water to recede, leaving a thick layer of mud and debris in its wake. Mephisto’s muddy display enclosure, on the ground floor level of Queensland Museum, was a sight (and smell) after the floodwaters receded.

Next the surface of the tank and inside the tracks needed to be cleaned of mud and thoroughly dried to limit corrosion and so that the full extent of any damage could be assessed. This was done using brushes and vacuum cleaners to remove as much of the mud from the surface of the tank as possible. A high pressure hose was also used to dislodge attached dirt and drive out mud and grease from crevices and hard to reach places. When all of the mud was gone and the water ran clear the surfaces were dried using compressed air. A corrosion inhibitor and dewatering agent was then applied to help eliminate water from the crevices and reduce the chance of corrosion caused by any remaining moisture. Such a large task required help from staff from other areas of the museum, including curatorial and collection management, and took over two weeks to complete. Once the surface was cleaned the condition of the tank could be assessed. Thanks to the initial conservation response and quick removal of mud from the surface, Mephisto was found to have suffered only minor damage as a result of the flood. Conservation and curatorial staff using vacuum cleaners and brushes to clean the mud from the exterior of the tank.

The first priority for Museum conservation staff was to remove the display structures, exhibition materials and as much mud and silt as possible from the sunken enclosure surrounding Mephisto so that it could be accessed safely.

Surface corrosion was noted in areas where the paint layer was scratched or chipped exposing the base metal, however the level of damage was minimal and largely superficial.

QM Head of Cuiltural Environments Dr Michael Westaway crawls underneath Mephisto with a high-pressure hose to begin the arduous task of removing the mud.

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