Urban Renewal and Transport Strategy, Newcastle
Artefact supported the delivery of a landmark urban renewal project while protecting Newcastle's rich cultural heritage.
The project
Location: Wickham Transport interchange, Newcastle, NSW on Awabakal Country
Artefact provided comprehensive archaeological assessment and excavation services for the Wickham Transport Interchange in Newcastle, ensuring Aboriginal and historical heritage values were carefully managed throughout the project.
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GHD Group
Transport for NSW -
Archaeological surveys
Aboriginal heritage assessments
Community and stakeholder engagement
Archaeological test and salvage excavations
Lithics analysis
“It was a rewarding challenge to balance a modern infrastructure development with the discovery and conservation of significant Aboriginal artefacts while contributing to Newcastle’s future.”
Heritage solution
Our process involved site surveys, Aboriginal heritage assessments, Community and stakeholder engagement, archaeological test and salvage excavations, and lithics analysis.
We found preserved evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the area and an assemblage of over 1,000 artefacts including spear heads, cutting tools, flakes, cores and knapping waste (pictured) which showed frequent and intensive use by Aboriginal people of the area over thousands of years.
The items were documented, photographed, catalogued and analysed and then, following consultation, handed back to Aboriginal traditional owners for reburial and repatriation.
Importantly, the project included extensive consultation with the Aboriginal community, ensuring that their knowledge and perspectives were incorporated into the assessment and interpretation of the findings.
Outcomes
Benefits to the client included: compliance with regulatory requirements; mitigation of potential risks associated with disturbing culturally significant sites; better planning and integration of heritage management into the overall project design; and enhanced knowledge of Aboriginal occupation and activities in the area.
Wickham Transport Interchange was successfully completed after a number of years of major construction work with interpretive signage near the site now providing public information about the project and archaeological history of the site.
See Heritage Interpretation work at the site.