Godden Mackay Logan

The Rocks, Sydney, was an early urban enclave of British settlement in New South Wales.  It developed notoriety as a perceived den of ‘fever, squalor and vice’, and became the target of ‘slum clearance’ programs around 1900.  The bustling neighbourhood of the Cumberland/Gloucester Streets site was flattened at this time, leaving behind a rich archaeological record.  The site remained relatively undisturbed throughout the twentieth century and, in 1994, Godden Mackay (now Godden Mackay Logan) undertook one of the largest urban excavations conducted in Australia.  The results were substantial and revealed extensive information on life in The Rocks from the 1790s to the 1950s.

The excavation and analysis of artefacts at the Cumberland/Gloucester Streets site were carried out for the Sydney Cove Authority (now the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority).  The project addressed five broad research questions covering social, economic and cultural issues.  The excavation recovered over 750,000 artefacts and located the remains of 46 separate buildings.  The analysis of this archaeological record was integrated with results of historical research undertaken before, during and after the excavation.  This was a pioneering attempt at this methodology on a large scale in urban archaeology in Australia.

Undertaking a complex excavation and analysis project on this scale requires efficient management skills, as well as an outstanding professional team.  The excavation included 15 archaeologists and specialists, hundreds of volunteers and thousands of visitors.  The project demonstrates the firm’s ability to carry out every stage of a major archaeological investigation, from initial research and site assessment, through to site testing and excavation, post-excavation cataloguing and reporting, as well as managing effective and extensive media relations and public tours,  maintenance of required equipment and infrastructure, and adherence to relevant statutory controls at each stage of the project.

The results of the investigation were initially presented in a detailed report of findings, which were later provided as a multi-volume publication.  Other project outcomes include Grace Karskens’ book Inside the Rocks, numerous academic publications and an education kit on Australian archaeology for high school students.

The publication program for the project received a National Trust Energy Australia Heritage Award in 2000.

Location: The Rocks, Sydney NSW
Client: Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
Project Type: Archaeological Excavation