Busby’s Bore, Sydney Football Stadium

The project

Location: Sydney Football Stadium on Gadigal Country

Artefact was contracted to provide a program of archaeological monitoring and salvage during the construction work of the new Sydney Football Stadium.

The Stadium was built on the site of a State heritage-registered Busby’s Bore (c. 1827-37) which was a vital part of Sydney’s infrastructure that supplied fresh water to the town.

The project was part of the NSW Government’s Stadia Strategy, to promote a strong cultural and sporting sector.

Heritage solution

Artefact assigned in-house industrial heritage expert and excavation director Dr Iain Stuart to the project. Dr Stuart is President of the Royal Australian Historical Society and a serving Board Member of the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage. He has worked extensively on industrial heritage projects in Australia and around the world. 

The focus was to manage possible impacts on Busby’s Bore from the construction of the Sydney Football stadium, Precinct Village and multi-level carpark in compliance with the project conditions of consent.

Archaeological excavation work located some sandstone walls and some unexpected finds - namely glass bottles from the late 1800s.

We conducted extensive archaeological monitoring of Busby’s Bore shafts 9 and 10 of using a variety of techniques including vibration testing. This process ensured that any inadvertent impacts from construction were avoided.

Outcomes

After extensively reviewing historical documentation and undertaking excavation works, Artefact’s advice re the location of the Busby’s Bore spur was incorporated into the conditions of consent for the Sydney Football Stadium Precinct Village and multi-level carpark and Artefact continues to provide advice to the project.

Furthermore, monitoring work ensured Busby’s Bore was not damaged during the construction of the project.