YOUR PARTNERS IN THE HUNTER REGION


Artefact in the Hunter

Since 2017, Artefact has offered expert heritage and environmental advice to clients in the Hunter Region.

We're proud to have played a key role in Newcastle's rejuvenation from an industrial city to one with modern business hubs, improved commuter rail infrastructure and a focus on new commercial and residential development.

Our Newcastle office is headed by Artefact Technical Director and archaeologist Jenny Winnett who has worked on major heritage projects in the area including Newcastle Light Rail, The Store, Newcastle Interchange, Belmont TAFE, and the Richmond Vale Rail Trail. 

Jenny works alongside Heritage Consultant Kristen Tola who has a focus on Aboriginal archaeology, community consultation, heritage management and interpretation, and Jennifer Castaldi who is a Registered Architect and expert in built heritage conservation.

Image: View of Nobbys Beach and Nobbys Lighthouse. Photo by Josh Dennis. 

LOCAL EXPERIENCE

Our presence in the Hunter Region means developers and government agencies can readily access our wide-range of archaeology, heritage and environmental services benefiting from our more than 12 years’ experience in heritage management expertise. 

Artefact is proud to have worked on major projects in Newcastle and surrounds including:

  • Belmont TAFE (TAFE NSW).
    Conservation Management Strategy, Heritage Impact Assessment.

  • Fennel Bay development site (Landcom).
    Historical and Aboriginal archaeological testing.

  • Hamilton to Wickham Transport Interchange (Transport for NSW).
    Historical and Aboriginal assessment, historical monitoring and salvage, Aboriginal testing and salvage.

  • Kings Hill Wastewater upgrade (Arcadis).
    Assessment and approvals (Historical and Aboriginal).

  • Newcastle Interchange and The Store (GHD Group).
    Statement of Heritage Impact, Heritage Interpretation Strategy, photographic archival recording.

  • Newcastle Light Rail (Downer Group).
    Heritage Interpretation Strategy and Plan.

  • Richmond Vale Rail Trail (Cessnock and Newcastle City Councils).
    Statement of Heritage Impact, Aboriginal Archaeological Survey Report.

  • Salt Ash Sand Quarry (Redisand).
    Aboriginal heritage assessment and archaeological services.

  • The Store (DOMA).
    Heritage interpretation Plan, Oral History Project.

Meet the Team

You're in safe hands

Jenny, Kristen and Jennifer each offer a unique set of skills to our local clients. Their particular focus areas are historical archaeology, Aboriginal archaeology, community consultation, heritage management and interpretation, built environment, and heritage architecture.

Importantly though, when you work with Artefact, you’ll also have the benefit of our broader team of over 50 in-house experts, who are well-known and respected in the NSW heritage sector. On staff we have excavation directors, cultural heritage managers, environmental assessors, archaeologists, interpretation consultants and technical experts to ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget. 


Read about our service offering.


Image: Artefact's Newcastle Team - Jenny Winnett (left), Kristen Tola (centre) and Jennifer Castaldi (right). 

A Newcastle icon

Artefact was proud to offer a range of services for the former Newcastle and Suburban Co-operative Society Limited, known to generations of locals as ‘The Store’. 

To facilitate the development approvals process we provided a statement of heritage impact, an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report, an Aboriginal archaeological survey report, a salvage strategy and a Heritage Interpretation Strategy.

"Thank you for the time and effort you put into the Store Oral History Project.  It was a great project and it was (and is) much appreciated by the local community. Your team's passion for this project really shone through."

Danna MacLeod,
Development Project Manager

 Learn more about our work on The Store.


Image: The Store: Newcastle West Building c1910, accession number 108000010, Newcastle Regional Library.

A local welcome

"We have a proud history of working closely with Aboriginal communities whose input, knowledge and expertise is critical to the projects we work on. We thank the Awabakal, Worimi and Mindaribba peoples of the Hunter area for their trust."

Dr Sandra Wallace, 
Artefact Founder and Managing Director

Image - Kristen Tola participating in a Smoking Ceremony with Matt Syron from the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council at the opening of Artefact's Newcastle office.




Expertise

Leadership

Heading up the Newcastle office is Artefact Technical Director and archaeologist Jenny Winnett.

Jenny's lived in the area for over 7 years and has been involved in a wide-range of transport infrastructure and commercial development projects. She's an expert in historic (non-Aboriginal) heritage and is nominated as an Excavation Director on permits from Heritage NSW.

Jenny has extensive experience working on projects for both public and private sector clients including large scale residential subdivisions, targeted urban developments and major infrastructure projects.

“I have a strong commitment to ethical archaeological practice, with a focus on positive heritage outcomes, while maintaining strong client relationships and constructive outcomes for clients and government agencies.


Connections


Kristen Tola is well established in the Newcastle area having previously worked at Newcastle Museum and with Fort Scratchley Historical Society in the management of Newcastle’s premier historic site. Kristen has also spearheaded State Heritage Register nominations for historical buildings in Newcastle.

She's worked on local transport, renewable infrastructure, and heritage projects, written heritage impact and moveable cultural heritage assessment and strategies, and has a particular focus on Aboriginal community archaeology and engagement.  

"Kristen’s dedication to preserving Newcastle’s heritage and stories is reflected in her commitment to community and her belief that respecting and protecting heritage can pave the way for a more compassionate and inclusive future."


Passion


Jennifer is a highly experienced heritage architect who is interested in the architectural interface between the preservation and reuse of items and how this works to express the narrative history of the site.

"I believe that pursuing conservation works generally offers economic value and sustainable outcomes. That’s why I’m excited to offer my skills and passion for heritage architecture to our clients in the Hunter Region and expand Artefact’s local service offering.”


Let's talk!

Artefact’s Hunter Region office is located at in the recently completed Steel River Eco Estate in Newcastle. 

Jenny, Kristen, and Jennifer are permanently based there providing a first point of contact to our clients from the Hunter.

The office space also has additional capacity for specialised archaeology equipment and serves as a home-away-from-home for members of our Sydney team deployed to the area for extended field trips and project requirements. 

Conveniently located in Mayfield West with views over The Hunter River the Artefact team invite you to come and say 'Hi'.  
We're here to help

With over 12-years professional experience in Aboriginal archaeology, historical archaeology, interpretation, built environment, environmental assessments and cultural heritage management, Artefact is well-placed to take on your next project – big or small.

Artefact's Newcastle Office
Unit 71, 8 Spit Island Close, MAYFIELD WEST NSW 2304


Download Capability Statement


For a quote or more information please contact 02 9518 8411 or office@artefact.net.au.

CONTACT

HOLIDAY CLOSE
Our offices will be closed from Monday 23 Dec 2024 and will re-open on Monday 6 Jan 2025.
For unexpected finds and urgent project enquiries, please contact our Heritage Manager Stephanie Moore at stephanie.moore@artefact.net.au or call 0420 403 581.
For all other enquires please contact our General Manager Martin Edmunds at martin.edmunds@artefact.net.au or call 0404 877 490.
We wish you a peaceful holiday break and look forward to working with you in 2025.

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