Traces of early Melbourne unearthed in ‘significant’ archaeological dig

Remnants from Melbourne’s first few years of European settlement more than 180 years ago have been unearthed during a “significant” archaeological dig in Little Lonsdale St.

An archaeological dig in Lt Lonsdale St has unearthed remnants of pre-Gold Rush Melbourne including the remains of a blacksmith’s cottage, and even traces from the city’s early white settlement.

Researchers have found old leather shoes, imported ceramics, bottles, toys, 1850s silver coins and even the original cesspit barrel.

The two-month dig has been described by Heritage Victoria’s principal archaeologist Jeremy Smith as significant.

“We’ve done a lot of archaeology in Melbourne. We’ve done about 250 digs, but it’s very rare that we find archaeological remains from this very early period, the 1840s, that are in as good condition as what we find here today.

“In terms of the digs we’ve had, this is probably one of the top 10.’’

The site is being scanned before a 32-storey hotel is built by the Brady Group.

Archaeology and heritage experts Dr Vincent Clark and Associates are conducting the search of the site at the corner of Zevenboom Lane.

Jeremy Smith, Principal Archaeologist at Heritage Victoria, at the site. Picture: Mark Stewart

Researcher Liesel Gentelli works in the site of the original cesspit. Picture: Mark Stewart

The bluestone rock foundations date the cottage back to the 1840s and 1850s, Mr Smith said.

“But the really interesting thing about the site is we found something else as well.

“We found remains of another phase of building activity, even before that time, potentially dating back to the first 10 or 12 years of Melbourne’s historic settlement in the 1830s and 1840s.

“So what we think we’ve got here is the archaeology for that first generation of Melbourne’s historic settlement before the gold rush.’’

The dig also has a cultural heritage management plan and holds discussions with the Wurundjeri people.

“Obviously it had a very strong Aboriginal history too, the land along the banks of the Yarra were very significant lands for the Wurundjeri people.

“So it was an Aboriginal place first, but then in the 1840s at the time of historic settlement,

The dig, at the corner of Zevenboom Lane, has taken two months so far. Picture: Mark Stewart

A 1850s silver coin recovered from the site. Picture: Mark Stewart

Bottles and inkwells recovered from the Lt Lonsdale St site. Picture: Mark Stewart

Melbourne would have been a very, very simple place with more of a village community.’’

The site is close to Elizabeth St which was also a natural water course.

The two-storey cottage had a shed nearby which possibly housed the blacksmith’s forge.

About 20,000 artefacts have been dug out of the site as the layers reveal new relics such as marbles, bone buttons, inkwells and a variety of animal bones.

All the items are being taken to Heritage Victoria’s Artefact and Research Centre in Abbotsford for further research and exhibition.

The former Phillips Shirts building at 274 Lt Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD.

The last building on the site was the three-storey Phillips Shirts warehouse, built about 100 years ago.

Czechoslovakian migrants Philip Phillips and Alex Peterfreund founded the Phillips business in 1952, then set up their factory in the Lt Lonsdale St building in 1958, closing down about 10 years ago. The company continues to operate on Chapel St, Prahran.

The Brady Group bought the site in 2014 for $15 million.