Metro Tunnel dig unearths remains of Melbourne’s first school

THE remains of Melbourne’s first school — built by founder John Batman in 1837 and run by a forgotten hero of the city’s past — have been uncovered by the Metro Tunnel diggings on Swanston St.

THE remains of Melbourne’s first school have been uncovered by the Metro Tunnel diggings on Swanston St.

Researchers have found the kitchen of Roxburgh Ladies’ Seminary, a seven-room cottage built by Melbourne founder John Batman in 1837.

Irishwoman Nichola Cooke rented it from Batman and started Melbourne’s first girls’ school in 1838.

DIG TO REVEAL CITY TREASURE TROVE

METRO TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION UNDER WAY

NAME THE TUNNEL BORING MACHINES

Archaeologists consider it the most significant find at the site that is to become Town Hall, one of five stations being built for the $11 billion rail tunnel project.

Researchers unearthed roughly-cut cattle bones that would have been used in soups and stews, a porcelain doll’s head, part of a comb, and sandstone footings of the kitchen area.

Most of the school is believed to be buried under Young & Jackson’s hotel, which opened in 1861.

Geoff Hewitt, excavation director at archaeological contractors Ochre Imprints, said finding remnants from the 1830s was “extraordinarily rare’’.

The remains of Melbourne's first school have been uncovered by the Metro Tunnel archaeological dig on Swanston St. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Metro Tunnel archaeological dig excavation director Geoff Hewitt with some of the cattle and sheep bones from Nichola Cooke's kitchen. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“It’s like looking into the keyholes and windows of the distant past,’’ he said.

The remains were found beneath the concrete slab of the former McDonald’s.

A team of 30 archaeologists, students and volunteers has been working at the site since last year. The latest finds were 1.5–2 metres below the surface.

History Council of Victoria chairwoman Liz Rushen said she was delighted.

“It’s the foundation of Melbourne as a civilised place with schools and people dining with fine china.

“Swanston St at the time was nothing more than a dirt track between tree stumps.’’

The site of the Roxburgh ladies seminary/school on Swanston St in 1839. Pic: Metro

Dr Rushen said Nichola Cooke, Batman’s former governess, was a forgotten hero of the city’s past, battling personal tragedies to keep the school open until 1851.

“Nichola upheld her right to stay on the property when the Batman executors tried to force her to leave, and provided stability in the lives of the Batman daughters.

“She engaged the courts in protecting her assets at a time when women were not even able to vote, and was one of the first women to own land in the Port Phillip District.’’

Cooke arrived in Tasmania from Ireland with her mother and her three younger sisters in 1836.

She left for Melbourne later to set up the school. Her mother and daughters boarded the Yarra Yarra in September 1838 to join her but the 45-tonne schooner was lost in Bass Strait.

She fought several attempts to close her school until it was removed in 1851 to make way for Walter Powell’s warehouse.

The remains of Melbourne's first school have been uncovered by the Metro Tunnel archaeological dig on Swanston Street. Picture: Nicki Connolly

A doll's head among the rubbish scatter. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Heritage Victoria senior archaeologist Jeremy Smith said Melbourne had some of the world’s best examples of 19th century archaeology.

“It’s possible to trace every event and every stage,’’ Mr Smith said.

It also helped to answer the question of why the settlement of Melbourne succeeded while others at Corinella, Sorrento, Portland and Port Albert failed at the time, he said.

Excavation of the remains is expected to finish early next year when work begins on building Town Hall station.

The remains will be analysed, cleaned and stored for later public display.

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