Sydney Metro, Central Station
Artefact led archaeological investigations for one of Australia’s largest public transport infrastructure projects at Sydney Metro's Central Station. The team provided heritage advice from planning to construction. Findings informed a heritage interpretation program, to share the site's rich history with future generations.
The project
Location: Central Station, Sydney on Gadigal Country
The Sydney Metro City & Southwest project was declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure by the NSW Minister for Planning. Sydney Metro represents a $20 billion investment in Sydney’s 21st-century public transport infrastructure.
The Artefact archaeology team prepared required documentation and led the Aboriginal and historical archaeology program protecting the site's extraordinary cultural heritage while enabling the delivery of the large-scale project at state heritage-listed Central Station.
While this iconic station opened in 1906, most Sydneysiders are unaware that Central was built on the site of the early colonial Devonshire Street Cemeteries. Artefact was engaged by developers Laing O’Rourke and Sydney Metro to conduct Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal historical archaeology for the deep excavation between existing platforms that risked uncovering historical human remains.
Excavation of an 1863 engine shed at Sydney Central Station.
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Laing O’Rourke
Sydney Metro
Transport NSW
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Historical Archaeology management - Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
Excavation
Exhumation and recording of graves
Reinterring of recovered remains
Heritage Interpretation
Public Art
industrial Heritage Management
Heritage Planning Advice
Heritage Assessment for planning approvals
Heritage Management Plans to facilitate appropriate heritage conservation and mitigation
Salvage strategies
Community consultation
A coffin crest
Heritage solution
During the excavations our team uncovered nearly 50 grave cuts associated with the former Devonshire Street Cemetery, sensitively handling the recovery of centuries-old human remains.
Working with Sydney Metro, the NSW Coroner, Health Department and Heritage NSW, Artefact revised the project’s Exhumation Management Plan. Historical archaeology Excavation Director, Dr Iain Stuart, then managed the exhumation of all remains and archaeological recording of the graves.
Sydney Metro later adopted the amended Exhumation Management Plan across its entire network. Artefact has since worked closely with Sydney Metro to assist with reinterring the recovered remains in consultation with relatives where possible.
The project extended to include industrial heritage management and the design heritage interpretation panels and a public art installation at the Metro platform, honouring the heritage of the site and the findings of the excavation.