Meticulous conservation work by the National Museum of Australia has revived a rare 1948 Daimler landaulette used by Queen Elizabeth II during her historic 1954 Royal Tour of Australia. Since being acquired in 2009, the Daimler has been the focus of one of the most complex conservation projects ever undertaken by National Museum conservators, where more than 30,000 components were assessed, carefully deconstructing much of the car and then rebuilding it piece by piece.

National Museum Director, Dr Mathew Trinca, said the Daimler 36HP Hooper Bodied landaulette was used extensively by the Queen during the Queen’s 58-day Royal Tour that covered seven states and territories. The Daimler became synonymous with this significant event in Australian history.

“The 1954 Royal Tour is important to the history of Australia as it was the first time a reigning monarch had visited this country. The Museum is proud to have in our collection one of only two surviving Daimlers that transported the Queen through capital cities and rural towns around the country,” said Dr Trinca. “The vehicle has been revived to a state that reflects its proud royal history and is a testament to the immense skills of the Museum’s conservators and the passionate support from donors and car lovers.”

Senior Large Technology Conservator, Mr Nathan Pharaoh, said the royal vehicle has tested and challenged the conservation team at the National Museum. “The conservation project involved combining a range of innovative techniques, matching traditional trade skills with modern technologies and materials. Our approach has established a new benchmark for hybrid automotive museum practice,” said Mr Pharaoh. “Some of the more challenging components were recreated using techniques such as 3D printing of parts and reverse-engineering the vehicle’s intercom system.”

The conservation of the Daimler would not have been possible without the generous support of donors and the Museum’s dedicated and experienced staff. The Daimler joined 11 other vehicles from the Museum’s collection at Wakefield Park in Goulburn, New South Wales on Saturday 17 August. It was a rare opportunity for the public to see the vehicles in action. The Daimler did a regal lap of the track and be on show throughout the day.

The Daimler will be displayed in the Gandel Atrium at the National Museum in Canberra until Thursday 5 September 2019.

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