05/08/2026
In May 2025, graffiti was discovered on a large rock wall at Paradise Falls on Taungurung Country, Victoria. ICS Melbourne was called in to assess the damage and help restore this sensitive site, which is central to Taungurung Women’s Business.
Removing the graffiti and restoring the site proved far more complex than simply removing paint.
All conservation decisions were guided by the Taungurung Elders in consultation with Parks Victoria staff, ensuring our treatment methodology respected the cultural and environmental significance of this important place.
🌟What made this project so complex?
The remote bushland location meant there was no access to water, power or equipment. To protect the surrounding environment, all chemicals used during treatment, and every drop of runoff and waste, had to be collected and removed from the site.
Each day the ICS team hiked for 20 mins to bring water, power and conservation equipment. At the end of the day, everything was carried back up and out of the site - a 30 min hike, including all waste generated during the cleaning process.
The conservation treatment itself was equally challenging. Different graffiti paints responded to different cleaning methods, and the sedimentary rock face varied in composition and friability. ICS conservators needed to make careful adjustments to the treatment process as they moved along the entire 10-metre wall.
