The newly reimagined Tasma Terrace opened its doors on October 30 2025. Terrace 8 now houses a gallery giving visitors access to the costume collection, while the Tasma shop in Terrace 6 blends heritage and contemporary design, showcasing highlights from VAULT and the Vintage Clothing Sale. Terrace 2 has been revitalised as a library. As part of the transformation that has reestablished Tasma Terrace as a vibrant hub of creativity and community, a series of careful conservation works were undertaken to repair and enhance its heritage character.

With reference to the Conservation Management Plan for Tasma Terrace, the team embarked on the removal of later white acrylic paint (containing plastic) and the 1970s era paint from the walls of what is now the retail and exhibition spaces. Prestigious Painting and Decorating Services used the Haymes Peelaway 8 System, made right here in Victoria, to safely remove the paint without damaging the plaster underneath. This product was not applied to the joinery or plaster details which have layers of earlier finishes, or to walls where wallpaper is present under such as in the hallway between the exhibition and retail space.

Earlier buildings with masonry walls like Tasma were built to ‘breath’ and will take in moisture through their walls and so need to be able to breath this back out. This is done by applying vapour-permeable finishes, or by applying wallpaper. The decorations in the library, staff hallway and parlour are a 1970s scheme based on researched typical 19^th Century schemes, but are still considered significant. These areas have received a good clean and re-fitting out only. They provide an opportunity to understand the different interpretations on conservation work in the National Trust’s history.

Plaster ceiling repairs were undertaken by traditional plasterer Ray Wiltshire using lime plaster made with a reactive ‘quick lime’ as was used by plasterers when Tasma Terrace was first built. This can be seen at the rear of the retail space behind the curtained store and dressing area.

This area showed signs of damage from previous damp or water ingress, and the installation of cabling under the floor which dislodged the plaster from the timber laths it was applied to. This repair was done completely in situ by building up the plaster layer by layer before running templates over it to achieve the finished result as shown below.

The Baltic pine floors were repaired, sanded and finished with a wax oil that soaks into the timber to help preserve it by The Floor Sander. The wax oil is a natural product that does not contain plastics like the polyurethane finish in the library, staff hallway and parlour which was applied during works in the 1970s. Sections of the floor are quite damaged by the wood pest borer, and a section has been replaced in front of the fireplace in the exhibition area due to previous fire damage.

Looking around the retail and exhibition spaces, you can see the more recent plaster that has been used on the walls to make good the damage that was due to installation of electrical wiring into the building before it was acquired by the National Trust.

New pendant light fittings in the retail area have been donated by Melbourne lighting retailed About Space and installed by Stretch Electrics.

We have enjoyed revealing aspects of this amazing building, learning more about the stories within its fabric and creating vibrant spaces for members and the public to enjoy. Please come visit us at Tasma Terrace and enjoy this fantastic space yourself.

Opening Hours 
📍 Tasma Terrace, 6 Parliament Place, East Melbourne 
🗓 Open Thursday to Saturday 
🕚 11.00 am – 5.00 pm