Historical Archaeological Assessment - SMDA - NSW Government

AECOM
Historical Archaeological Assessment - The Grange - North Eveleigh Affordable
Housing Project, Wilson Street, Darlington, NSW
1
1.0 Introduction
AECOM Australia Pty Ltd (AECOM) was commissioned by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority
(SMDA) to undertake an archaeological assessment of the North Eveleigh Affordable Housing Project site,
located on Wilson Street, Darlington, NSW (the Project). SMDA is proposing to construct a road, associated
services and undertake land remediation at the Project site, in advance of a mixed residential, commercial, retail
and cultural development, which has concept approval (MP 08_0015) from the Department of Planning and
Infrastructure (DP&I). The site is located within the Eveleigh Railway Workshops, listed on the State Heritage
Register (SHR No. 01140).
An Environmental Assessment was prepared in relation to the Concept Plan in January 2008. During public
submissions, the potential for archaeological features associated with The Grange, a former house on the site,
was identified, together with an extant cistern. The archaeological potential of the area and the extant cistern had
not been identified in an Archaeological Zoning Plan (AZP) prepared by AHMS (2008). AHMS provided further
advice regarding the cistern in a letter dated 25 August 2008, which recommended a suitably qualified
archaeologist should inspect the site to identify and assess the significance and research potential of the remains.
This report undertakes the inspection and assessment recommended by AHMS. It also addresses Condition 3 of
the recommended Conditions of Consent issued by the NSW Heritage Council (10 May 2012), which states:
“All affected areas identified as having archaeological potential are to be subject to professional archaeological
monitoring and recording during the project works. A Research Design including an Archaeological Excavation
Methodology must be prepared in accordance with Heritage Council guidelines for each site which is to be
excavated. Those documents should be prepared for the approval of the Heritage Council of NSW or its
Delegate…”
As the archaeological resource related to The Grange is not well understood, AECOM is undertaking the Project
in two stages:
1. Stage 1 – Archaeological Assessment; and
2. Stage 2 - Research Design and Archaeological Excavation Methodology, if required.
This report comprises Stage 1 – Archaeological Assessment - of the Project. The purpose of this assessment is to
satisfy the requirements of the AZP in relation to the previously unidentified archaeological potential of The
Grange, and to determine the nature and extent of the potential archaeological resource. To achieve this, the
scope of works completed by AECOM for this archaeological assessment included:
Completion of a detailed history of The Grange, aided by the public submission to the REF relating to
The Grange;
A half day site inspection locating, recording and assessing the features identified in the public
submission, as well assessing the archaeological potential of the Project site in light of subsequent land
uses;
Assessment of the significance of the potential archaeological deposits associated with The Grange Villa
according to Heritage Branch guidelines Assessing Significance for Historical Archaeological Sites and
‘Relics’ (NSW Heritage Branch, 2009);
Preparation of an archaeological assessment report, including recommendations regarding the
requirement for, and scope of, a Research Design and Methodology;
1.1 Project Team
The Project was managed by Robert Mason (Principal Engineer) and the assessment was carried out by Dr
Susan Lampard (AECOM Archaeologist). Susan co-ordinated project logistics, conducted the heritage
assessment, undertook fieldwork, and authored this report. Rochelle Coxon (AECOM archaeologist) assisted with
the preparation of the report. Luke Kirkwood (AECOM Senior Archaeologist) provided technical and QA review.
Tim Osborne (AECOM Designer) provided mapping and graphics support, and Jodie Glennan (AECOM IAP
Team, Senior Team Secretary) provided administrative assistance.
24 July 2012