Coachbuilding in Paddington

1 Newcombe Street, Paddington, a former carpark was subject to archaeological investigation in preparation for a $13m development into mixed residential and retail property.

Artefact was commissioned by Johnstaff on behalf of the Uniting Church to research the history of the area, investigate the archaeological potential of the site and undertake archaeological excavation to recover any lost history, and artefacts or relics.

Image: Painted cyclopean concrete surface representing the latest version of the site's toilet block. 

OUR
SOLUTION

Artefact was engaged to provide an archaeological assessment of 1 Newcombe Street, the site of a late 19th Century coachbuilders site and early 20th Century open-air cinema.

4 test trenches were excavated and found to contain a rough-cut stone well and several glass, metal and ceramic artefacts, all demonstrating human presence on the site for well over 100 years.

Ceramic ointment jars were discovered in Trench 2, notable examples include ‘Josephson’s Australian Ointment for All Sores’ and ‘Holloway’s cure for Gout and Rheumatism’, both dating to the late 19th Century.

Several pieces of leather, ceramic vessels and metal frame remnants from purses and bags were also found during excavation, giving insight into the lives of workers from the coachbuilding on site at the time.


SUCCESS

Excavations at Newcombe Street were carried out over one week by Artefact’s Historical Archaeology team. The methodology the team employed meant we were able to meet the clients allocated time-frame and budget.

The recovered artefacts were documented and logged securely as a record of the history and industry of the site.


Image: Gilt facing or frame from a purse found during excavation of the site. 


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