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Work at Waterloo Station gives a glimpse of life in Sydney in the 1800’s

11.05.2018

Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station pointing at a list of artefacts and where on the construction site behind them they were found. Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station pointing at a list of artefacts and where on the construction site behind them they were found.
Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station as they both point to a booklet labelling the displayed artefacts on the table below them. Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station as they both point to a booklet labelling the displayed artefacts on the table below them.
Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station, the artefacts are lined up in plastic tubs along a table with community members inspecting them. Sydney Metro employees showing community members the archaeological artefacts found at Waterloo Station, the artefacts are lined up in plastic tubs along a table with community members inspecting them.

As major construction activity continues at the site of the new Waterloo metro station, the community has gone behind the fence to get a glimpse of life in Sydney in the 1800s.

When industrial buildings and shops were removed in 2017 and 2018 to make way for the new station, more information about the history of the area was uncovered.

Specialist heritage consultants analysed artefacts to get a better insight into the lives of the people who lived here in the 19th century, before industrial buildings were built in the 20th century.

Finds included an area paved in stout and ginger beer bottles dating back to before 1891, a number of toys including a Cupie doll and marbles, a telegraph transmitter and various structural remains.

Any items found to be of state or local heritage significance will be recorded and retrieved by experience archaeologists before excavation of the new Sydney Metro station sites begins.

Once the heritage investigations are complete, a report with the findings will be published and Sydney Metro will investigate how some of the artefacts can be appropriately displayed for the community.

The traditional owners of this land are the Gadigal.

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