Discovery of Aboriginal middens Hobart’s Hope and Anchor hotel

An archaeological dig on land next to a Hobart pub has been stopped after the discovery of Aboriginal middens. See what was found.

John Kelly owner of the Hope & Anchor pub with Doctor Jennifer Jones-Travers archaeologist and director of Latitude Heritage who is involved with the dig. An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

An archaeological dig on land next to Hobart’s historic Hope and Anchor Hotel has been stopped after the discovery of Aboriginal middens.

Owner, licensee and councillor John Kelly said the site was one of the most significant in Australia and Aboriginal Heritage Tasmania had been notified.

“We’re in the process of gaining all the necessary approvals now that it’s bound to have more sensitive and important artefacts and findings on the site,” he said.

“We had no real concept of what was there.

“We’ve been sort of unveiling this treasure trove of artefacts and more important, potential Aboriginal historical things as well.

“Not only is the site significant as one of Australia’s first European settlements but is of major importance to the Muwinina people of the South East Nation.

Some of the things found so far in the dig. An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The hotel and excavation site are where the fresh water of the Hobart Rivulet meets the salt water of the Derwent Estuary and was a place of cultural significance and gathering for the First Nations people.”

The Hope and Anchor, Mr Kelly says, is Australia’s oldest continuously licensed venue opening its doors 217 years ago in 1807, just three years after Hobart’s European settlement.

“This is just the start of a major project and who knows what treasures from the past will be revealed,” he said.

“I am honoured and excited at the same time to be part of the unearthing of this sacred ground -It’s almost like being on the set of an Indiana Jones movie.”

Marbles. An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Archaeologist Dr Jennifer Jones-Travers said that the site on vacant land next to the hotel in Macquarie St was listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register as being of significance for the state for its archaeological importance.

“I can say that that’s entirely playing out and we have found three really well preserved historical layers,” she said

“It is a really amazing and unique place with an opportunity to tell an exciting story.

An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We’ve got the 1807 hotel which was when the first hotel, the Whale Fishery, was built and then 1826 when they moved the Hobart Rivulet and changed its alignment. In 1858 they built the third iteration of what the current pub is now.”

Dr Jones-Travers said a lot of women’s and children’s artefacts had been found as well as the remains of animals and fish.

“We’ve got a lot of artefacts that are coming from around the world, but they’re interesting things that we don’t usually find.

Tooth and an ivory handle from cutlery. An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There’s this sense of international goods coming through this place, which makes sense when you’re so close to a major shipping corridor and maritime trade centre that the Hobart waterfront was.

“We’ve excavated fish scales and egg shells, rat’s bones, and fish bones and things that are intact so we’re able to kind of get down to that really fine detail.”

The materials from around the world, include a shell disc with Pacific Island motifs, carved bone pieces, Chinese export porcelain, and French ceramics.

“We are seeing evidence of women’s mourning jewellery and clothing, with a proliferation of black buttons and beads suggesting use of the pub to hold wakes, possibly in association with the Coroner’s inquests often held at public houses (the ample cellars helping keep the bodies cool before examination).

Engraved disk. An archaeological dig at the vacant site adjacent to the Hope & Anchor pub in Hobart has uncovered some treasures from years gone by. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“More detailed examination of the artefacts will help us understand who was using different spaces at the pub and how they were whiling away their time at the public house, hotel and associated shops.”

Dr Jones-Travers said the excavation works would be a very slow methodical process that would continue to evolve as the layers of history were revealed. “Work will need to be paused at times to register the identified Aboriginal heritage site and seek the necessary approvals to continue,” she said.

“We’ve potentially found Aboriginal heritage, you know, reflecting the occupation, and the longstanding use of the area by the Muwinina people.”

Mr Kelly took over the hotel in February 2023 after he paid $4.6m for what he described as “one of Hobart’s heritage jewels’.

He said several people had volunteered to help with the archaeological excavation.

“You can pay now to go on archaeological digs in Greece and Mediterranean, so it’s a real new thing now,” Mr Kelly said.

“We’ve only done about five per cent of it so far.

“This is one of the hottest archaeological sites in Australia.”

Originally published as Discovery of Aboriginal middens Hobart’s Hope and Anchor hotel