Sydney
Suite 56, 26-32 Pirrama Road, Jones Bay Wharf
PYRMONT NSW 2009
Hunter Region
Unit 71, 8 Spit Island Close
MAYFIELD WEST NSW 2304
Central West
4/112 Keppel Street
BATHURST NSW 2795
Mon to Fri | 9am - 5pm
To view the breadth of our services, please search our projects via the map below. You can search by type of project or location (LGA).
Location marks on the map are approximate. Projects involving Aboriginal archaeology and Aboriginal cultural heritage are not included in this map for cultural sensitivity reasons, but we have listed some of the Local Aboriginal Land Councils we have worked in.
Our interactive map allows you to search the type of project or locations where Artefact have worked.
Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to see what our team here at Artefact Heritage and Environment are up to. We also like to share news from the fields of archaeology, history and heritage to promote the latest exciting developments in these areas.
Keep up to date with upcoming events, seminars and talks hosted by ourselves or our colleagues in the world of heritage.
There's always plenty happening with the team at Artefact so stay in the loop for all our latest news.
When you partner with Artefact, you’ll receive timely and accurate advice on how to integrate archaeology, heritage and environmental considerations into your project plans.
Artefact includes specialists across key fields of archaeology, heritage, environment, interpretation, architecture and history. More importantly, with 50 staff we can assemble a skilled in-house team targeted to your specific requirements.
HISTORICAL HERITAGE
As highly experienced project leaders, Artefact has been lead consultant on many major projects. Our planning and management systems ensure that projects are completed in a timely, professional manner, working in partnership with our clients.
Since 2010 Artefact is proud to have worked on a diverse range of large and small-scale infrastructure and development projects.
During this time we have built-up extensive experience in a variety of sectors including rail, roads, power and renewables, health, greenfields development and urban renewal.
Some of the more well-known projects we've been involved with include: Central Station Metro; Parramatta Light Rail; Sydney Metro City & Southwest; Wickham Transport Interchange; Northern Beaches Hospital; St Vincent’s Private Hospital; Concord Forensic Mental Health Unit; Sydney Harbour Bridge; The Northern Road Stages 1 & 2; Berry to Bomaderry Upgrade (Princes Highway); West Wyalong Solar Farm; and Wind Farm and Transmission Line projects in the Pilbara and Western NSW.
With almost 50 staff, and offices in Sydney and Newcastle, we can assemble a skilled in-house team targeted to your specific requirements.
For a personal response to your heritage and environment needs, please ask how we can tailor an integrated solution to suit your plans, your timeline and your budget.
Artefact have worked on almost all major rail infrastructure developments in NSW over the past decade.
Our proudest achievement is our team. We value their skills and talents, and we trust that you will too.
At Artefact we recruit staff who are passionate about the past, skilled in their disciplines and professional in their approach. We all understand the need to balance our rich local heritage with plans that shape the State’s future. These attributes contribute to a great team culture internally – and to exceptional advice and service for you. We support each other to make sure that our clients come first, which is why we have an industry-wide reputation for being responsive, innovative and authoritative.
SANDRA WALLACE, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Artefact was established in 2010 by Dr Sandra Wallace, who remains the company’s Managing Director.
What ever your heritage project we are here to assist.
Country or city, desktop or fieldwork, we’ve covered most of New South Wales and ACT.
Our advice and services are customised to offer the best guidance on how you can proceed, whatever your project type.
We consult right across the scale from neighbourhood architectural practices to multinational developers. But don't take our word for it! Check out our testimonials from our clients.
Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to see what our team here at Artefact Heritage and Environment are up to. We also like to share news from the fields of archaeology, history and heritage to promote the latest exciting developments in these areas.
Keep up to date with upcoming events, seminars and talks hosted by ourselves or our colleagues in the world of heritage.
OUR NEWS
Today we say farewell to the amazing Kelly Barton who finishes up at Artefact after 7 years.
Kelly has played a pivotal role in Artefact’s success during her various roles as Administration Assistant, Office Manager and most recently leading the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer program.
We will miss her energy, positivity and wise-cracks as well as her deep passion and knowledge for Aboriginal culture and heritage.
Whilst we are incredibly sad to see Kelly go, we are very proud that she has accepted a management role with the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council heading up their on-Country ranger program which is working to restore and protect 1,100 hectares of land at Heathcote Ridge near Menai.
From all of us at Artefact, thankyou for a job well done Kel – we miss you already.
Image: Kelly Barton at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont
OUR NEWS
Next time you’re travelling along the Newcastle foreshore, it’s worth remembering that just 1.5m beneath you, embedded in ancient sand banks, may be thousands of Aboriginal stone tools.
A few years ago, Artefact deployed a large team of archaeologists, technical experts and representatives of the local Aboriginal community on a month-long Aboriginal archaeological investigation as part of the Wickham Transport Interchange project.
We found beautifully intact sand profiles beneath the main Newcastle rail line and preserved evidence of Aboriginal occupation of the area. The team unearthed an assemblage of over 1,000 artefacts including spear heads, cutting tools, flakes, cores and knapping waste 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, were handed back to Aboriginal traditional owners for reburial and repatriation.
Interpretive signage near the site now provides public information about the project.
Image: Aboriginal artefacts found during archaeological excavation work
OUR NEWS
Artefact has been working closely with Community Elders and the Heritage Team at Liverpool City Council to develop a First Nations Thematic History of the area.
A draft is now available for review and Aboriginal people with cultural knowledge of Liverpool are invited to provide feedback as part of a workshop.
“As this is the first time a First Nations Thematic History of Liverpool has been developed it’s important the work is accurate and representative, and Community members have a voice in the process. I look forward to presenting the work and listening to feedback,” said Dr Stephen Gapps.
The teams at Artefact and Liverpool City Council look forward to seeing you there.
Register your attendance
Image: Courtesy of NSW Government
OUR NEWS
Congratulations to Artefact Principal and registered architect Scott MacArthur who’ll be guest speaker at the upcoming Inner West Council Built Environment Awards on the 19th October.
“As part of my role as President of the Marrickville Heritage Society I have the honour of judging the Marrickville Medal for Conservation. Sydney’s Inner West showcases an incredible diversity of architectural styles with Victorian, Federation, Edwardian and Art Deco buildings siting alongside modern and contemporary architecture. I look forward to presenting the 2024 award to an outstanding project that contributes to the preservation of the Inner West’s rich architectural landscape.”
See the full list of finalists
Image: Scott MacArthur (right) with fellow judges Sinclair Croft (left) and Matt Devine (centre).
OUR NEWS
Last week Artefact facilitated a walk on Country along the Stringy Bark Creek in Lane Cove with team members from Level 33.
The walk was led by Uncle Bob and Aunty Pam from Konanggo Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services who generously shared local Indigenous stories and talked to us about how the project might take inspiration from the colours, textures, shapes and sounds of the landscape around us.
We look forward to developing the associated Connecting with Country report and working with Level 33 on interpretative ideas for the new development.
Working with local knowledge holders, Artefact can help developers and architects embed the Government Architect NSW’s Connecting with Country framework into your next project.
OUR NEWS
Here’s a couple of great opportunities for people who want to make a real difference in the preservation of heritage and the environment in the Central West.
Both roles are located in our office on Keppel Street, Bathurst.
We’re looking for a Heritage Consultant (full-time) to carry out fieldwork, research and develop content for project reports and an Administration and Finance Coordinator (part-time) to help run our Bathurst office and assist with finance tasks.
Benefits include:
Supportive team environment
Great career progression and mentoring opportunities
Flexible work options
Professional development leave and allowances
Allocated time to work on social and environmental justice initiatives
We’d love to hear from you.
OUR NEWS
Did you know that Australia is the second largest textile consumer in the world behind the US?
The average Australian now consumes 56 items of new clothing every year. That’s why each year Artefact coordinates a mass clothing donation to Vinnies.
Here we see Jonny, who heads-up our Equality and Justice Purpose Team, dropping off some of the items in Glebe.
This simple action helped our team consider both the cycle of textile consumer waste; along with how important it is to help bridge the equity gap in Australia and around the world.
This is something we all can do more of.
Read the review of textile waste management in Australia
OUR NEWS
Due to internal promotions and company expansion we’re looking for someone to head up our archaeology division.
Working across both Aboriginal and historical archaeology projects, the Team Leader – Archaeology position is an exciting opportunity to mentor and lead a small supportive team of archaeology professionals.
The position is full time and is located in Artefact’s head office on a heritage wharf overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Benefits include:
To arrange a confidential discussion email hr@artefact.net.au
Click here for more information and to apply
OUR NEWS
Last week during construction works at Moorebank Intermodal Precinct we were called on site to investigate an unexpected find.
Uncovered was a section of wood stave pipe located about a 1m down measuring 3.6m long x 0.2m wide.
Likely dating from around the late 1800s the pipe was most likely used to carry fresh drinking water and is made from sections of hard wood bound together with iron wire. Wood stave pipes were commonly constructed across Sydney in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries yet are rarely encountered.
Artefact is working with the team at ESR Australia & New Zealand to record the pipe with the aim of uncovering further evidence about 19thC water supply technologies and essential infrastructure in Western Sydney.
Learn more about our work in archaeology
Artefact Archaeologist Jonny Love inspecting the section of wood stave pipe at Moorebank.
OUR NEWS
Introducing Daniel Dompierre-Outridge who’s recently joined Artefact’s Built Environment team as a Heritage Consultant.
Daniel’s a graduate of both the University of British Columbia in Canada and the University of Sydney.
His background is in historical archaeology, particularly in the realm of Classical and Near Eastern studies. He recently he expanded his horizons by engaging in the field of museum and heritage studies as a means of exploring the relationships that arise between past and present communities.
Daniel's goal is to help connect history to the present by examining the links between built heritage and present-day reality, and to safeguard historical fabric with which future generations can engage.
Welcome to Artefact Daniel.
OUR NEWS
The team took a ride on the Sydney Metro and popped up at the brand new Barangaroo Station.
It was exciting to see the various elements of Artefact’s Heritage Interpretation Plan come to life including interpretative signage, seating structures, and the ‘Barangaroo Boat’ inlay.
A key philosophy of our plan was to balance the deep-time Aboriginal narratives of land and sea Country, together with the significant early maritime history of the site.
Learn more about the project via our case study
OUR NEWS
Earlier today Artefact's Heritage Manager Steph Moore caught up with Janeen Hosemans from 2BS Radio Bathurst to talk heritage and our presence in the Central West.
Thanks Janeen and the team from 2BS 95.1 FM for welcoming us to the area.
OUR NEWS
We’re happy to announce that award-winning historian Juanita Kwok is joining the Artefact team as a Heritage Consultant.
Juanita will be based in our recently established Bathurst office working alongside Sabrina Roesner and Steph Moore.
An expert in Chinese-Australian history in the Central West, Juanita brings over 20 years of experience to the team.
“It’s a great asset to Bathurst for Artefact to open an office in this city at the foot of Mt Panorama/Wahluu. As both a centre of Wiradyuri culture and the oldest European inland settlement in Australia, Bathurst is rich in history and heritage. I share Artefact’s passion for heritage and the environment and am delighted to join the team.”
Read more about our presence in the Central West
Image - Juanita, Steph and Sabrina on Keppel Street in Bathurst.
OUR NEWS
Thanks to the people of Bathurst for making us feel so welcome at the opening of our Bathurst office last week.
The Artefact team loved meeting members of local heritage organisations, Council members, business owners and Community.
We were especially honoured to have Wiradyuri Elders offer a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony as part of the event.
Read more about our presence in the Central West
OUR NEWS
After a five-year hiatus it was great to be part of last week’s NSW Heritage Forum in Sydney.
Around 200 participants attended the 2-day event including Anita, Stephen and Steph from Artefact. The team valued hearing the latest updates on current Heritage NSW initiatives and discussions about heritage management in NSW.
Artefact historian Dr Stephen Gapps also participated in the closing keynote and panel discussion ‘Truth-telling in Australia’s Heritage’ alongside Rachel Perkins, Jason Ardler, Dr Penny Taylor and Patricia Laurie.
We look forward to the 2025 event.
OUR NEWS
To celebrate International Dog Day we’re happy to share this adorable portrait of Sam (who heads-up Artefact’s Country and Culture team) and Claypan.
“My dog Claypan is a joyous artefact of my time interviewing artists in the Western Desert. We’ve had some great adventures over the years. She doesn’t travel as far anymore but she enjoys a trip to the office to brighten everyone’s day.”
Celebrated annually on 26 August, International Dog Day is dedicated to honouring the special bond between humans and dogs – it serves as a reminder of the immeasurable contributions dogs make to our lives, whether as loyal companions, working partners, or assistance dogs.
It's fair to say, the team at Artefact are dogophiles….. with our ‘Pet Friendly Policy’ set up so that that staff can bring their fury friends into the office. We believe that pets can foster a friendlier and happier workplace. They’re fun, playful and can have positive influence on our work.
OUR NEWS
As Sydneysiders take their first trips today on the Sydney Metro line from Chatswood to Sydenham we wanted to call out the striking new public artworks integrated into the architecture and design.
Congratulations to the team from the Sydney Metro Authority (and participating artists) for a sophisticated, modern and creative approach to location-based storytelling on our newest public transport initiative.
As outlined in this great ABC News article the Sydney Metro could soon become something of a tourist attraction in its own right.
Artefact is proud to have worked on various components of the Sydney Metro project.
Read the full story
Image courtesy of NSW Government.
OUR NEWS
Thankyou to Wiradyuri elders for inviting us on Country to be part of the Dhuluny Corroboree.
We learnt of resistance against 200 years of frontier violence, hidden histories, truth telling and the history of Wahluu (Mount Panorama) – a place widely known for motor sports – but with a largely unknown First Nations story about honour, betrayal and ancient topography.
OUR NEWS
Meet Christy Green (Wills) who is completing an internship with Artefact while studying for a Masters of Heritage Conservation at University of Sydney.
For the past few decades Christy has been working as a technical writer within the medical device industry but her long-standing passion and interest in history prompted a career change.
Christy is pictured here checking out the heritage interpretation elements that Artefact developed at the recently upgraded Central Station in Sydney.
OUR NEWS
Introducing Pedro, Amanda, Iain, Steph and Jonny from Artefact’s Historical Archaeology Team.
Supported by our in-house technical experts, our skilled Historical Archaeology team have recently undertaken work on a range of large-scale projects across NSW including Lithgow Area Remodelling (Aurecon and Sydney Trains), More Trains More Services at Central Station (Transport for Tomorrow) and Airly Shale Mines (National Parks and Wildlife).
With specialist sector expertise across road, rail, urban development and Industrial Heritage Steph and the team are here to help on your next project.
OUR NEWS
Meet Amy Weidlich - Artefact’s Social Activism Manager.
Amy leads Artefact’s Purpose teams – whereby staff are allocated time each month to work on social change projects that are important to them. Amy also plays a key role in activating our social values as a company.
Amy is an ex journalist, television programmer, marketing executive and independent filmmaker who’s sat with Elders, peacemakers, industry leaders and practitioners in Australia and across the world.
“I am deeply inspired by people who work for peace. I am motivated to find common ground and to bring empathy and emotional intelligence to the work we do together.”
Amy is pictured here in some of her past roles and with her ‘artefact’ – a shell necklace given to her by a group of artists living near Gunyaŋara in South East Arnhem Land.
Learn more about Amy
OUR NEWS
There’s a reason why our team members are smiling – because, quite simply, Artefact’s a great company to work for.
Due to a variety of new projects and with growing regional offices in the Hunter and Central West we have 7 new positions available.
If you’re passionate about heritage and are looking for a job that makes a difference, then we’d love to hear from you.
Here’s a dozen reasons to join us….
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to be an official sponsor and supporter of the Dhuluny Project in Bathurst (11-18 August 2024).
Dhuluny is a series of events commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law on 14 August 1824 and the surrounding frontier wars.
For 200 years the Wiradyuri people have been waiting to tell their side of the story, one that many people don’t know – it’s a story of resistance warfare, violence and massacres, resilience and survival.
“What happened in Bathurst in 1824 led to an unprecedented escalation of violence in Australian Frontier War history. The consequences to Wiradyuri people in the Bathurst region were widespread and devastating, and it is critical that we reflect on these shared histories that have been too often and for too long ignored. It is also important to remember the incredible resistance to the occupation of Wiradyuri Country that occurred - a resistance that needs to be front and centre in Australia's commemoration of war.” says Stephen Gapps (Artefact historian and Adjunct Lecturer at Charles Sturt University).
View the full program
Image: From We Bleed The Same: Yindyamarra, featuring portraits of Dinawan Dyirribang Uncle Bill Allen Jnr.
OUR NEWS
In exciting news we’re happy to announce the establishment of an office in the Central West.
“We’ve been fortunate to have worked on some really interesting projects in western NSW for a number of years so are looking forward to offering our clients the convenience of a local presence in the region,” says Artefact Founder and Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace. “The feedback and support we’ve received so far from Community, business-owners and the local council has been wonderful and we’re really grateful to the people of Bathurst, Orange, Lithgow and surrounding areas for welcoming us.”
Artefact’s Central West office will open in late August and will be located at 4/112 Keppel Street, Bathurst, NSW 2795.
Experienced Artefact team members Sabrina Roesner (Heritage Interpretation) and Steph Moore (Historical Archaeology) will work from the office initially. In the meantime, we’re looking for local heritage and environment experts based in the area to join us.
If you’d like work for Artefact in our newly established Bathurst office please register your interest.
OUR NEWS
Did you know that when you work with Artefact you’ll have access to world-leading expert Tony Barham – our in-house Geomorphologist?
Having an understanding of the topographic features and landform evolution of a site can be a valuable addition to a project, especially where greenfield development might occur.
Tony’s work is particularly important when it comes to archaeological assessments and Cultural landscape mapping with Aboriginal communities.
Discover more about Tony and how he can help on your next project.
Image: Tony Barham
OUR NEWS
Earlier today Cole, Kelly and Sam from Artefact’s Country & Culture team joined Managing Director Sandra Wallace for the NAIDOC Week Working Boat Parade.
Thanks to our friends at Banks Events the team enjoyed a cruise on Sydney Harbour aboard the heritage tug boat Marrakai. On the water, they pulled alongside Tribal Warrior’s awesome ‘Wirawi’ - formerly known as The Lady Northcott Manly ferry.
Wishing everyone a happy NAIDOC 2024.
Image: Cole, Sandra, Kelly and Sam on board Marrakai.
OUR NEWS
To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2024 we’re happy to present this blog from Artefact’s Kelly Barton.
Kelly is a proud Woolwonga (NT), Wakka Wakka (QLD), and Goreng Goreng (QLD) woman who has worked at Artefact for the past 7 years in the roles of Admin Assistant, Office Manager and now as an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer.
Here Kelly talks about the key role she plays in Aboriginal archaeological projects, community engagement and consultation. She explains what she enjoys most about her work and how she is now starting to see Country differently.
Image: Kelly Barton inspecting and cataloguing Aboriginal artefacts.
OUR NEWS
Late last year the new Parramatta Aquatic Centre opened to the public after several years of planning and community engagement.
Working with the City of Parramatta, we’re proud to have produced the Heritage Interpretation Strategy for the Aquatic Centre, which was then curated and designed by SUPERSENSE in collaboration with the Dharug Specialist Cultural Panel.
This short case study outlines how Artefact approached the interpretative elements of the project.
Congratulations especially to the teams from Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall who recently won the Sulman Medal for Public Architecture and an Urban Design Award for their work on the Parramatta Aquatic Centre at the 2024 NSW Architecture Awards.
Image: Parramatta Aquatic Centre photo courtesy of Peter Bennetts/Grimshaw.
OUR NEWS
Today Artefact turns 14!
To celebrate we’re sharing this still life from our first office in Rose Bay snapped in 2012.
At that time there were only two employees (Josh Symons and Adele Anderson).
The one constant at Artefact is the fruit bowl. It continues to this day and is always well stocked. On the bookshelf you’ll see a number of history and archaeology reference books as well as the inspired additions of ‘Lend Me Your Ears - Great Speeches in History’ and ‘The New Dictionary of Thoughts: A cyclopedia of quotations from the best authors of the world, both ancient and modern, alphabetically arranged by subjects.’
Congratulations Sandra Wallace, happy anniversary, and thanks to all the wonderful staff and clients who’ve been part of our journey so far.
OUR NEWS
This morning Artefact’s Jennifer Castaldi was interviewed by Paul Turton on ABC Radio Newcastle about the process involved with heritage listings.
The discussion was prompted by Newcastle Council’s vote on a new Heritage Conservation Area for Cameron’s Hill and the heritage listing of two residential dwellings in Mayfield
Image: Jennifer Castaldi is a Heritage Architect in Artefact's Built Environment team.
OUR NEWS
We’re on the lookout for a Senior Heritage Consultant to work in our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage team.
If you have a minimum 3 years full-time experience in management of Aboriginal cultural heritage and archaeology or in related fields and have related formal qualifications then we’d love to hear from you.
As a Purpose-lead organisation, social and environmental justice is in our DNA. We encourage like-minded people to join us, to follow our Purpose to use Artefact as an agent for positive change.
The position is based at Artefact’s head office on a heritage wharf overlooking Sydney Harbour.
Discover more
Image: Photo by Elsa Guyader.
OUR NEWS
Meet Amanda Bie Wojcik who recently joined Artefact’s Historical Archaeology Team.
Amanda’s a graduate of Macquarie University with archaeological excavation experience in Portugal and Australia.
A lover of history, Amanda's ‘artefact’ is a Cleopatra necklace that she purchased from a Portuguese street vendor who carved coins into pendants.
Amanda and Artefact’s Historical Archaeology team are here to help with expert advice for your next project.
Image: Amanda Bie Wojcik - Graduate Heritage Consultant in Artefact's Historical Archaeology team.OUR NEWS
Over the June long weekend Artefact’s historian Dr Stephen Gapps attended the annual Myall Creek Massacre commemoration.
In this short blog, he reflects on the event and the histories of resistance, massacre and survival.
Image: Wreaths laid at the massacre memorial.OUR NEWS
If you missed ABC Radio’s Law Report earlier in the week here’s a streaming link.
The episode talks about the various laws protecting First Nations sacred sights and how effective they are. It also explores the differences between Aboriginal heritage legislation across different States and Territories of Australia.
Includes interviews with Joshua Hunter (Traditional Owner, Kakadu National Park), Lachlan Spargo-Peattie (Crown Counsel, Northern Territory Solicitor General's Chambers), Dr Jonathan Fulcher (Partner, Hopgood Ganim Lawyers) and Jamie Lowe (CEO, National Native Title Council; CEO, First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance).
Well worth a listen.
OUR NEWS
Heritage Consultant Lily Hackett has now completed two archaeological digs in the 19th Century Chinese gold-mining village at Harrietville, Victoria.
During the excavations a number of items of interest were uncovered including ceramic brownware, cooking and storage vessels, bottles, flagstones and buttons from clothing.
The digs were organised by the Uncovered Past institute – a not-for profit archaeological field school that offers on-site training in excavation, landscape survey, history and artefact cataloguing and analysis.
If you’re a student looking for some practical experience in the field or someone interested in archaeological practice then you might like to check it out.
OUR NEWS
Did you know that we have a dedicated team of mapping and technical specialists who provide world-class GIS services?
GIS Mapping at Artefact is led by Mike Douglas who has over 15 years of experience collecting, manipulating, and presenting a variety of geospatial data for public and private development projects throughout Australia and the United States.
Discover more about our in-house capabilities and how we can help with your next project
OUR NEWS
Today we say bon voyage to Heritage Consultant Katherine Chalmers who is jetting off to Alabama.
Kat is participating in the World Heritage USA International Exchange Program and will spend the next 3 months working on the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. The 54-mile trail commemorates the people, events, and route of the 1965 Voting Rights March in Alabama. World Heritage USA is the supporting organization of ICOMOS-USA.
Congratulations from the team at Artefact and we look forward to hearing about your experience when you get back.
OUR NEWS
The calls for changes to the way Aboriginal archaeology is managed in NSW have been steadily growing now for some time.
Aboriginal heritage protection still sits under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 which is a huge embarrassment to NSW.
In this blog post Artefact’s Founder and Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace asks is there a better way?
OUR NEWS
If you have a passion for design, architecture and heritage we have an exciting role on offer for the right person.
We’re looking for someone to join Artefact’s Built Environment team as a Heritage Consultant and work on iconic buildings across Sydney and NSW.
The position is based in Pyrmont at our offices on Jones Bay Wharf.
Please send us a message if you have any questions regarding the position.
See our Seek advertisement for all the details and to apply.
OUR NEWS
Our friends at the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation have just published this powerful piece about ‘Imperfect Allyship’.
The team at Artefact think this is a wonderful set of words to consider for National Reconciliation Week - now more than ever.
We invite you to have a read and share with your networks
With Yindyamarra and mandaang (respect and thanks in Wiradyuri),
OUR NEWS
For something a bit different, tune in this Friday to hear what Artefact’s Sam Sammut has to say about the bioarchaeology of Roman Imperialism.
In this National Archaeology Week seminar hosted by the ANU’s School of Archaeology and Anthropology Sam will present a case study from the Danube Limes in which he examined two skeletal samples from eastern Austria: one pre-Roman and one Roman period.
Find out what Sam discovered and how his research is relevant to modern societies on Friday 24 May from 1pm – 2pm.
Register to join the live stream
OUR NEWS
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2024 National Trust Heritage Awards held on Fri 17 May at Doltone House in Sydney.
We're very proud of Cole, Kieran and Kelly who were nominated for their work as Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officers.
It was great to see so many of our colleagues and friends at the event and also at the afterparty at the Artefact offices on Jones Bay Wharf.
OUR NEWS
Meet Sammuel Sammut who’s recently returned to Artefact after nearing completion of his PhD. Sam has come back as a Heritage Consultant in the Aboriginal Culture Heritage.
His doctoral thesis focused on bioarchaeology – reconstructing the past through human skeletal remains - which has an immense capacity to inform us about the health and lifestyles of individuals and populations from the past.
It's great to have you back on-board Sam.
OUR NEWS
Shout-out to our fab interns Teodora and Mary who have just completed an 8-week work placement program at Artefact.
Teodora and Mary are final-year students at Macquarie University studying Archaeology – we hope they come back and work for us after completing their degrees.
OUR NEWS
As part of National Archaeology Week, Artefact’s Director of Projects Anita Yousif will share some of her career experiences on a Women in Archaeology panel discussion.
To give you a taste of what’s in store Anita has put together a selection of moments from her 30-plus-year career as a professional archaeologist.
The free event will be held at Sydney University’s Chau Chak Wing Museum from 3-5pm on Fri 24 May 2024.
See photos of Anita working on sites in Paphos in Cyprus, Serbia and Sydney.
OUR NEWS
As part of the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival Artefact Principal Iain Stuart led an industrial heritage walking tour of Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont.
Iain pointed out examples of the wharf’s adaptive re-use from 1920 to the present day and showcased a range of unique architectural features.
There are limited spots available on the second tour being held on Sunday 19 May from 10am to 11am. If you’d like to join please email office@artefact.net.au to reserve your spot.
OUR NEWS
Blue Mountains City Council hosted its inaugural Heritage Forum on the weekend. The sold-out event was attended by heritage practitioners, heritage property owners and those with an interest in local heritage who enjoyed a day of talks, walks and workshops.
Blackheath local and Artefact team member Sabrina Roesner presented case studies for our Heritage Interpretation work on Blackheath Railway Station and Central Station Metro.
As Sabrina said, “seeing so many young people engaging with our unique local heritage as part of the forum was really inspiring. I feel very lucky to live in the beautiful world heritage-listed Blue Mountains and to be able to share my passion for heritage with the community.”
Artefact's Sabrina Roesner speaking at the inaugural Blue Mountains Heritage Forum.
OUR NEWS
254 years ago 40 spears were taken by James Cook and Joseph Banks from the Gweagal people living at Kamay, Botany Bay.
Four of these remaining spears have now been repatriated to the La Perouse Aboriginal Community from Trinity College in Cambridge where they’ve been held since 1771 by the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Artefact Principal Dr Iain Stuart spoke to ABC Radio’s Tim Webster about the history of the spears and the significance of their return to Community.
As Gujaga Foundation Director Ray Ingrey says, “the spears were pretty much the first point of European contact, particularly British contact with Aboriginal Australia. I think for us it’s a momentous occasion that where Australia’s history began, in 1770 on the shores of Botany Bay at Kurnell, the spears that were undoubtedly taken without permission are returned to the rightful people. Ultimately, they’ll be put on permanent display for everyone to go see; at the very spot they were taken from 250 years ago.”
You can listen to Iain’s interview here.
Photo by Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Cambridge showing the four surviving 1770 Gweagal Spears.
OUR NEWS
Artefact’s resident Norfolk Islander Nicola Jorgensen has recently had a blog published via the Australian Museum.
Here she documents the archaeological excavation work her team carried out on a Polynesian adze-making workshop at Mount Bates on Norfolk Island. The dig was a collaboration between the Australian Museum and the University of Sydney.
“I think the best part about it is that it really highlights the importance of involving community in research like this. The project started with local knowledge and we had Polynesian descendants volunteering with us each day. It was just a really special experience for all of us,” says Nicola.
When she’s not exploring islands in the Pacific Ocean, Nicola is Artefact’s Aboriginal Heritage Team Leader (Assistant).
Photo courtesy of Jerry Cook.
OUR NEWS
In more good news, we’re delighted that our interpretation work on the Sydney Metro Central Station project has been honoured as part of the Sydney Metro-shortlisted entry in the Architecture category of the 2024 National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards.
Our approach used the overarching interpretive theme of ‘Journeys and Gatherings’ which allowed for a wide range of site stories to be told. Artefact developed a video tracing the history of the Devonshire Street Cemetery from 1820 until the present day; an interactive allowing users to explore a map of Central Station archaeological finds and heritage buildings; a large wall feature of an 1879 plan of the area with archaeological finds displayed within it; and large-scale public artworks by Bundjalung artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft.
“I’m really proud of the team for developing such creative and engaging solutions that bring to life the archaeology and history of this unique site,” says Artefact’s Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace. “Congratulations to Carolyn, Alex, Charlotte, Sabrina and Katherine from our Heritage Interpretation Team and others who also worked on this Sydney Metro-project including Woods Baggot, OCP Architects, John McAslan & Partners, Art of Multimedia, Dr Bronwyn Bancroft and the team at Sydney Metro.”
The winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony in Sydney on 17 May.
OUR NEWS
We’re excited to announce that Artefact’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer Program has been shortlisted for a National Trust (NSW) Heritage Award 2024.
For the past few years we’ve been running a program that looks to ultimately hand back control of Aboriginal heritage to Aboriginal people. To help achieve this we’ve developed a methodology for hiring, mentoring, training and leadership for Aboriginal team members who work on a range of projects including archaeology, Cultural Values Assessments, Connecting with Country reports and heritage interpretation.
“I am so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve so far with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer Program. Congratulations to Kelly Barton, Kieran Murray and Cole Perry who are currently employed in the program and play an essential role in delivering Aboriginal heritage outcomes for clients. I also want to acknowledge Philip Obah and Brye Marshall who have been Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officers at Artefact in the past.,” says Artefact’s Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace.
The winners will be announced at an Awards ceremony in Sydney on 17 May.
OUR NEWS
Artefact’s Jennifer Castaldi was a guest speaker at a recent event hosted by Heritage NSW to celebrate the listing of Bouddi Farm at Killcare on the State Heritage Register.
Built in 1966, the house was designed by architect Guilford Bell as a creative retreat for celebrated artist Sir Russell Drysdale, who lived there until his passing in 1981.
“Its unique modernist design demonstrates innovative principles of sustainability, using an understanding of the local climate to develop cross ventilation, to cool the property without the need for air-conditioning.’
The house is currently owned by Jennifer’s parents who have lived there for the past 23 years. They have lovingly retained the architectural masterpiece, and took the unusual step of self-nominating Bouddi Farm for State Heritage Register listing.
“The listing celebrates their conservation efforts, recognising Bouddi Farm's contribution to the architectural canon of NSW, and ensures the long-term preservation of its legacy for future generations.”
Image courtesy of Heritage NSW.
OUR NEWS
Jennifer and Jenny from Artefact's Newcastle office recently attended Business Hunter's first Infrastructure luncheon of 2024.
They heard from NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler OAM who delivered a keynote speech about the challenges and opportunities facing the construction industry in NSW.
Thanks to our friends at GHD for sponsoring the event and AJM for the photos.
Image: Artefact's Jennifer Castaldi (right) with delegates at Business Hunter's Infrastructure event held at the Merewether Surfhouse. Courtesy of AJM Photography.
OUR NEWS
Our Built Environment team recently finished work with Apparition Media providing heritage advice for DA for a new a hand-painted advertising wall along Clarence Street in Sydney's CBD.
The nature of the surrounding heritage item posed an interesting challenge. The exterior of the former Noyes Bros currently houses its own historic advertising wall for the former factory, contextually similar in purpose to the modern advertising wall proposed in this project.
Discover how we resolved this challenge.
Image: Original branding on the former Noyes Bros building adjacent to the new hand-painted advertising wall. Courtesy Apparition Media.
OUR NEWS
The team were recently in the Capertee Valley on a field trip investigating what’s left of the shale-oil mining activities that took place between the 1880s and the 1920s at Mount Airly NSW.
Accompanied by a ranger from NSW National Parks and Wildlife, Monika, Iain and Sabrina documented the ruins of dwellings once lived in by some of the 200 miners and their families. They also explored stone structures and caves containing mining relics.
Oil shale is a sedimentary rock containing kerogen, from which oil can be distilled through the application of heat. At the time, the extracted shale oil was used to make kerosene, paraffin wax, ammonia, lubricants and motor fuel.
OUR NEWS
We’re proud to have worked with the team at JMD Design on the City Park and Allen Place Upgrade project in Penrith.
The park was recently opened to the public allowing the local community to enjoy the gardens and amenities. We think the end results looks fantastic.
To learn more please see a short case study outlining Artefact’s built environment work on this exciting $19 million project by Penrith City Council.
Image courtesy of Penrith City Council.
OUR NEWS
It’s been a busy few months working on new heritage projects in the Hunter Region so we’d thought we’d profile Artefact’s Newcastle Team.
Heading up the Newcastle office is Artefact Technical Director 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.
Kristen Tola has a focus on Aboriginal archaeology and community consultation, as well as heritage management and interpretation. Kristen is well established in Newcastle with former roles in local government and Newcastle Museum, and as a volunteer for the Newcastle Historic Reserve Land Manager for the historical government buildings in Hunter Street, Newcastle.
The latest member of the team is Jennifer Castaldi who brings considerable skills in heritage architecture. Jen is a Registered Architect and expert in bult heritage conservation in urban and regional contexts. She’s particularly passionate about the adaptive reuse of older structures and assets.
Our Newcastle team are here to help with your next project.
Image: From left to right is Jenny Winnett, Kristen Tola and Jennfier Castaldi who each offer a unique set of skills to our local clients.
OUR NEWS
To celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival (18 April – 19 May) we’re hosting a walking tour of the iconic Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont.
Join Artefact Principal Dr Iain Stuart on a specially curated guided tour that explores the industrial heritage of the 1920s-built wharf. The 1-hour tour on the 4th of May includes archival imagery, original research, and plenty of opportunities to ask Iain questions about the wharf's adaptive re-use from 1920 to the present day.
We hope to see you there.
Limited free tickets are available here - bookings essential
OUR NEWS
We've just wrapped-up a few weeks of archaeological work on a site in south-west Sydney.
Discover the various types of archaeological services that we offer.
Image: Artefact archaeologists Pedro (left) and Jon (middle) working alongside Cole - our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer (right).
OUR NEWS
Artefact congratulates Wiradyuri Elders and knowledge holders from the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation who were at NSW Parliament House yesterday supporting a Notice of Motions regarding a state significant Wiradjuri cultural and history facility in Bathurst and Aboriginal war memorial museum.
2024 marks 200 years of Parliament in NSW. Importantly 1824 is also the Bicentenary of 'Gudyarra' or the Wiradjuri war of resistance. A motion by MLCs Stephen Lawrence, Ben Franklin and Jeremy Buckingham was debated and passed such that the colonisation of Wiradjuri land be recognised and remembered as an integral part of NSW Parliament 200-year commemorations.
Artefact Historian and frontier wars author Dr Stephen Gapps, added “this marks an important step in truth-telling in New South Wales and the growing recognition and commemoration of the resistance wars that occurred right across Australia.”
We look forward to supporting all those involved, including the team at Bathurst Council, to raise awareness of one of the most brutal ‘civil’ wars in Australian history.
Image:- Wirribee Aunty Leanna Carr, Yanhadarrambal Uncle Jade Flynn, President of the Legislative Council the Honourable Ben Franklin, Dinawan Dyirribang Uncle Bill Allen and Uncle Ricky Powell. Image courtesy of the Wiradyuri Traditional Owners Central West Aboriginal Corporation.
OUR NEWS
It was a pleasure working with the team at Gartner Rose as well as Tubba-Gah artist Merindah Funnell on heritage interpretation elements for the upgraded Waitara Station – part of TfNSW’s Transport Access Program.
Waitara Station, on Darug and GuriNgai Country, opened in 1895 as the last station on the North Shore Line.
Next time you’re up that way check-out Merindah’s beautiful designs on the fencing at the station entrance and on the platform screens that focus on the terrain, waterways and natural ecosystem of the area.
For more on the project see our case study
Image: Merindah Funnell's designs, entitled ‘Invitation to Connect' fixed to the fencing on the main station entrance. Photo courtesy of Gartner Rose.
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OUR NEWS
Liz, Alex and Cole from our Country & Culture team recently took part in a Walk on Country with Uncle Gavi Duncan and Uncle Phil Bligh on sites located in the Darkinjung LALC on the NSW Central Coast.
They visited Pearl Beach, the Bulgandry Aboriginal Art Site, participated in a smoking ceremony and learnt about the local Aboriginal community’s history, art, spirituality and cosmology.
As Artefact’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Office Cole Perry noted, “walking on Country is such an important part of the process. Listening to the Elders talk about the land, the animals and our songlines fills in a part of me that is missing and is slowly coming back. I could sit and listen to the same stories they tell a million times and get something different from it at each stage of my life. Walking on Country cleanses my soul and makes me feel lighter as if I’ve just been baptized in a pool of knowledge given to me from my ancestors.”
Read about how Artefact’s Country & Culture team can help with your next project.
OUR NEWS
This year marks 200 years since martial law was declared across the Bathurst region – a moment that has come to define the First Wiradjuri War or the Bathurst War of 1824.
To discover more about this rarely discussed chapter in Australian history listen to this engaging ABC Radio National podcast featuring a range of historians, Wiradjuri elders, authors and Artefact’s in-house historian Dr Stephen Gapps.
Image: Portrait of Wiradjuri warrior Windradyne, courtesy of ABC.
OUR NEWS
We’re pleased to welcome the wonderful Jennifer Castaldi – who joins the team in Artefact’s Newcastle Office.
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.”
Outside of heritage she loves the water, travelling and traditional trades and practices including repairing broken ceramics using the Japanese Kintsugi method.
OUR NEWS
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘invest in women: accelerate progress’ and that’s just what Artefact’s Founder and Managing Director has done in her approach to business.
Dr Sandra Wallace formed Artefact Heritage and Environment at the start of 2011 driven by a desire to ‘shake things up a bit’. Today her company is one of NSW’s most respected cultural heritage and environmental agencies.
At the heart of Artefact’s success is the unofficial motto of ‘do things differently’ – and in Sandra’s case she has realised this by giving a much louder voice to women and First Nations people who have typically been poorly represented in the construction, environmental and engineering industries.
Here Sandra reflects on her 13 years in business and highlights some of the challenges she’s observed as a female business owner.
Read blog
Image: Sandra circa 2003 on an archaeological excavation in western Sydney.
OUR NEWS
For the last few weeks the team have been hard at work undertaking an Aboriginal archaeological salvage excavation at a greenfield development site north-west of Sydney.
The project involved excavation, wet sieving, and the cataloguing of a number of Aboriginal artefacts found on site.
It was great working in partnership with a range of Registered Aboriginal Parties on this major project.
See more
Image: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer Kelly Barton wet sieving.
OUR NEWS
It's exciting to see our Heritage Interpretation Plan come to life at Stanmore Station in Sydney. Built in the 1880s, the station is an excellent example of a late 19th century style of suburban railway architecture.
Stanmore Station was recently upgraded as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program and included the integration of additional lighting, wayfinding, public art, activation and CCTV cameras.
Working with DesignInc and Haslin, our Heritage Interpretation Plan focused on telling three key stories: Mura (tracks); The Heart of the Village; and Railway Architecture.
The plan resulted in two beautiful artworks in the new lift foyers by Gunu Baakandji artist Maddison Gibbs, and a series of wall features and interpretive panels outlining the history of the station and the heritage of the Aboriginal people of the area.
OUR NEWS
Meet Alex, Kat, Carolyn, Sabrina and Charlotte from our Heritage Interpretation Team.
The team have extensive experience developing tailored interpretation plans that enable the stories of heritage places to be creatively explored through a range of digital and physical media. They also frequently collaborate with designers, architects and artists to deliver visually and physically engaging results.
Carolyn and her team have put together a range of online case studies at the link below that showcase some of their recent work.
OUR NEWS
We’re excited to welcome Sabrina Roesner to Artefact who has joined our Interpretation team as a Senior Heritage Consultant.
Sabrina has more than 15 years’ experience in the Australian arts, cultural and heritage sector, working on numerous exhibitions, public art strategies and commissions, engagement programs, and interpretive projects – both in the physical and digital realm.
Her previous roles included Artistic Programs Manager at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Strategic Project Officer, Heritage & City Planning at Blue Mountains City Council, and Visual Arts & Programming Coordinator at Brisbane Powerhouse.
In 2021 Sabrina received the Alan Sisley Memorial Fellowship for her research and contribution to environmental sustainability stewardship within the NSW gallery and museum sector.
OUR NEWS
Today we honour the extraordinary life of one of Australia’s greatest Aboriginal leaders - Lowitja O’Donoghue (1 August 1932 – 4 February 2024).
Lowitja was a nurse, an equal rights campaigner, an Australian of the Year, chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, honorary doctorate holder and a fighter who dedicated her life achieving better outcomes for her people.
The Artefact team acknowledge this inspirational woman and are saddened by her passing. We send our respects to her family.
Image: Lowitja O’Donoghue at the launch of the Lowitja Institute in 2010. Photo by the Lowitja Institute.
OUR NEWS
For the past few years we’ve been running a program at Artefact that employs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have consultation and engagement skills, but not necessarily experience or qualifications in archaeology or heritage.
Our vision is that Aboriginal heritage management should be primarily undertaken by First Nations people.
We call these positions - Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officers (ACHOs) – and so far the Program has generally been a success and is constantly evolving as we learn and listen.
The blog ‘Handing it Back’ co-authored by Artefact Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace and Heritage Consultant Dr Michael Lever presents our learnings on the ACHO program and our views on some of the shortfalls of the current heritage framework that governs the management of Aboriginal heritage assessments.
‘Handing it Back’ was originally presented at last year’s NSW Aboriginal Archaeology Future Forum held at the Australian Museum and has been repurposed here in written form. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to offer its support to the upcoming Dhuluny Conference in mid-August 2024.
The conference is part of commemorations marking 200 Years of Wiradyuri Resistance from 1824 to 2024. On the 14th of August 1824, Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane declared martial law in the region - the first use in NSW of martial law against Aboriginal people.
“As one of the co-organisers of this important event, I’d encourage you to mark this in your diary. What happened in Bathurst on 14 August 1824 led to an unprecedented escalation of violence in Australian Frontier War history. The consequences to Wiradyuri people in particular in the Bathurst region were widespread and devastating, and it is critical that we reflect on these shared histories that have been too often and for too long ignored,’ says Dr Stephen Gapps (Artefact historian, Dhuluny Conference co-organiser and Adjunct Lecturer at Charles Sturt University).
Dhuluny is a Wiradyuri word that means ‘truth and that which is direct’. A series of community events from the 14th to 17th of August will focus on truth-telling and the legacies of the events of 1824.
The Dhuluny Conference (hosted by Charles Sturt University) is currently seeking expressions of interest from those interested in presenting at the event – including artists, dancers, storytellers, military lawyers, legal historians, interdisciplinary academics, and research students.
OUR NEWS
Meet archaeologist Matthew Finlayson who recently joined Artefact’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Team as a Senior Heritage Consultant.
Originally from Queensland, Matt spent the first three years of his career working in Coffs Harbour (Garlambirla). He’s also been fortunate enough to work on academic and commercial excavations in Cyprus, Scotland and Tasmania.
Matt's ‘artefact’ is the tail feather of a Glossy Black-Cockatoo (biliirrgan) which was gifted to him by a Gumbaynggirr Elder and Knowledge holder of the Coffs Coast region in 2020. “I view my artefact as a tangible reminder of the connections we are able to make with Aboriginal communities through our profession.”
Matt and the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage team are here to help with expert advice, fieldwork and community consultation.
OUR NEWS
Congratulations to Lily Hackett who has recently been promoted to the position of Heritage Consultant.
Lily started with Artefact 18 months ago in a graduate role and is a much-valued member of Artefact's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Team.
As well as her skills in artefact analysis, excavation and field surveys, Lily brings extensive skills in traditional and digital drawing, and archaeological illustration.
You can read more about Lily here
OUR NEWS
At Artefact we’d prefer to celebrate Australia on a different day than the 26th January because we acknowledge that this is a day of mourning for many First Nations people.
We allow our team the option of working on the Australia Day public holiday and choosing an alternative day to take off in lieu. We did this last year and we will continue to do so in support of the ‘change it ourselves’ movement and in solidarity with First Nations people.
As we know, the 26th of January was chosen as the date of Australia Day because it was the day the first of the British ships arrived in Warrane (Sydney Cove). As such, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people this date represents the beginning of their dispossession. The loss of their culture and the hardships of their ancestors are closely tied to the 26th of January.
“We strongly believe Australia can do better in terms of how we celebrate who we are. Because of its history, the 26th of January is not inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and therefore should not be our national day of celebration,” says Artefact’s Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace. “We call on likeminded companies and individuals to push for a new date to celebrate and we urge the National Australia Day Council to do the same”.
OUR NEWS
Introducing Martin Edmunds who has recently been appointed as Artefact’s General Manager.
Martin joins us following a variety of senior management roles throughout Australia, the UK and the Middle East. He’s affiliated with the CEO Institute of Australia and is a committee member with the NSW Facilities Management Association.
As General Manager, Martin will work closely with Artefact’s Director of Projects Anita Yousif on strategic growth, operations and industry engagement.
“It’s great to have someone of Martin’s calibre join the team as we move into the next phase of the company’s development,” says Artefact’s Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace.
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to be an official supporter of the Indigenous Art Code.
“I am really pleased that Artefact has made the decision to become a member of the Indigenous Art Code. It is vital that Indigenous artists are treated fairly in a commercial context and are provided with the opportunity to be the ones who represent and profit from their culture,” says Dr Samantha Higgs, Team Leader – Country and Culture.
Artefact frequently works with Indigenous artists to develop public artworks as key features in new developments from targeted urban developments to large scale infrastructure projects. We aim to ensure that the intangible significance of a site is reflected in a range of ways, including through artworks developed in consultation with key knowledge holders.
We also are surrounded by Indigenous art in our own Pyrmont offices. Two years ago we commissioned artists Maddison Gibbs (Barkindji) and Jason Wing (Biripi) to create the works: ‘Pirrama’ and ‘Be the Change’. The murals reflect our core values and honour the Country (Pirrama) where we work together as a team in Sydney.
You can read about the Indigenous Art Code here
Photo courtesy of Maddison Gibbs.
OUR NEWS
The Artefact team is taking some time out to relax with family and friends over the festive season.
Our office will be closed from Saturday 23 December 2023 and will re-open on Monday 8 January 2024.
For unexpected finds and urgent project enquires during this time please contact Jayden van Beek on 0488 041 326.
For new client enquiries please contact Managing Director Sandra Wallace on Sandra.Wallace@artefact.net.au
In the meantime, we wish you a peaceful holiday break and look forward to working with you in 2024.
Photo by Kate Trifo.
OUR NEWS
Thankyou to all the wonderful clients, staff, contractors, stakeholders and Community who worked with us to make 2023 Artefact's biggest year yet.
We opened an office in the Hunter, welcomed new team members, launched a range of new services including Connecting with Country Reports, Cultural Values Assessments, Environmental Assessments and Industrial Heritage.
We worked on over 300 projects, and made a big impact on the environment - changing our name from Artefact Heritage Services to Artefact Heritage and Environment.
But we couldn’t have done it without all our wonderful clients and stakeholders. Thank you for trusting us with your projects.
Along the way we engaged with the industry, worked with Community, and got behind a dozen causes.
We looked after each other. Got married!, and made time to let our hair down.
Thankyou to the team for making it all happen. Artefact look forward to working with you in 2024.
OUR NEWS
Artefact congratulates Emeritus Professor John Maynard for receiving the 2023 Annual History Citation.
Each year the History Council of New South Wales presents the Citation to an eminent historian to honour a lifetime of service to history.
The Council said John Maynard is “one of Australia’s first Indigenous professors of History, a renowned mentor and advocate for Indigenous people, and a prolific and engaging public speaker. He forged new pathways into universities for Indigenous people and communicated evidence of the strength and survival of First Nations to the wider Indigenous and non-Indigenous public.”
John has been a leading voice at the University of Newcastle where he has worked for almost 28 years. During this time he played a significant role in re-shaping First Nations narratives of the area.
The team at Artefact have been honoured to work closely with John on a variety of projects in the Newcastle area.
Click here for more details and all the other Annual History Award winners
Image: John Maynard (right) with Artefact’s in-house historian and History Council President Dr Stephen Gapps. Photo by TWH Photography, courtesy of History Council of NSW.
OUR NEWS
Last week we were honoured to work with representatives of the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation, Didge Ngunawal Clan, and the Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation as well as team members from Orion Group and WEM Civil to respectfully rebury an assemblage of Aboriginal artefacts found in the Kemps Creek area of a new industrial development in Western Sydney.
Dominic Wilkins from the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation offered a Welcome to Country and worked with Teagen Pittman from Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation to return the artefacts to their place of rest.
Learn more
Image: Dominic Wilkins and Teagen Pittman covering the artefact assemblage with small handfuls of earth in accordance with cultural sensitivities and wishes of the Registered Aboriginal Parties.
OUR NEWS
Last night Artefact’s Country and Culture team attended a special event celebrating 5 years of Connecting with Country and the State Design Review Panel.
One of Artefact’s first Connecting with Country projects - 11 Gibbons St Redfern - was profiled at the event and heralded as a flagship project by Government Architect NSW. The project was a groundbreaking social housing development by St George Community Housing. Completed in 2020, 45% of the building’s units are now occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Artefact’s interpretation lead, Carolyn MacLulich, worked with well-known Aboriginal artist the late Joe Hurst and Boomalli Aboriginal Artist Cooperative to develop designs that related to locally significant landscape features and stories that were then integrated within the building design – in terrazzo floor patterns, wall features, designs on the soffits that were illuminated at night, as well as landscaping and paving graphics in the rooftop garden.
Read short case study
Image: Flowing Joe Hurst designs on the soffits of the building.
OUR NEWS
A few years ago Artefact’s historical archaeology team conducted excavation works on the State Heritage registered Argyle Street Railway Substation as it underwent power supply upgrades.
The team found an assemblage of over 2,000 artefacts dating from the mid-1800s through to the 1920s when construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge commenced.
Read short case study
Image: Artefact Technical Executive Josh Symons (left) with archaeologist Richard Spencer on site at Sydney's Argyle Street Railway Substation.
OUR NEWS
It’s not every day that we get to mix leisure and heritage work but that’s what happened a few years ago preparing a Thematic Heritage Study of Northern Sydney's golf courses.
The report was used by Transport for NSW to help inform future projects in the area.
“Golf courses are important reserves of urban amenity for their social, environmental and heritage values. Artefact was pleased to have prepared this comprehensive Study so that the contextual heritage significance of these important resources can be understood and inform future infrastructure and development proposals on Sydney’s North Shore,’ says Scott MacArthur, Principal, Built Environment - Artefact.
Read short case study
Image: Bayview Gold Course, Hole 2.
OUR NEWS
It was an honour working with representatives of the Darug people and local Traditional Knowledge Holders on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project for Transport for NSW.
Artefact prepared a Cultural Values Assessment which helped guide the planning and development of the 10-kilometre, two-way light rail track with 14 stops, as well as bridges, interchanges and active transport links.
Here you'll find a short case study that outlines the approach taken by our Country and Culture team.
“With any major new infrastructure project, it’s important to understand Aboriginal views about the broader cultural and environmental context of the location involved. In our experience, engaging with Traditional Knowledge Holders typically leads to better project outcomes." says Dr Elizabeth Bonshek, Senior Heritage Consultant – Artefact.
Read short case study
Image: Artist's impression of the Parramatta Light Rail green track in Cumberland. Courtesy of Transport for NSW.
OUR NEWS
Please join us in welcoming Cole Perry to Artefact as an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Officer.
Cole is a Biripi/Worimi man who will play a key role in helping the team deliver Connecting with Country reports and Cultural Values Assessments.
"I am passionate about my career in cultural heritage management and keen to work with industry, land councils, knowledge holders, developers and government to help tell the stories of First Nations people. My goal is to utilise my cultural knowledge to support the development of my people and society in a positive way."
Cole works in Artefact's Country and Culture team.
Learn more about Cole here
OUR NEWS
This October we got our pink and blue on for a good cause - breast awareness and understanding prostate cancer.
Our Pink & Blue Morning Tea featured a selection of treats with a splash of pink and blue.
Some of the team even dressed up for the occasion (pictured here).
Who do you think wore it better – Clinton (who leads our Environmental Assessments Division) or HollyMae (in our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Team)?
Discover the facts below.
Breast Awareness
Understanding Prostate Cancer
OUR NEWS
Our Built Environment team have put together this neat little case study about their work on 36 Hickson Road in Millers Point.
The site was the former Maritime Services Board Stores and where AGL began distributing gas to Sydney in 1841. The building now serves as stunning corporate offices rich with history and character.
As Artefact's Senior Associate Sarah-Jane Zammit says. “36 Hickson Road is a highly significant piece of our industrial heritage in Sydney, and a window to the past. Working on this project ensures that the custodians adequately maintain and protect the historic fabric and significance of the building into the future.”
Read about how we helped.
Image courtesy of Dexus.
OUR NEWS
The team at Artefact wish to acknowledge the difficult time right now for many of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and colleagues.
To those in Community, those on Country, those knowledge holders and artists we work with regularly and to our Aboriginal staff members we offer our support.
Please know that we will walk with you into the future as you justifiably seek better recognition and better outcomes for your people.
Dr Sandra Wallace and all of us at Artefact.
Image: A hand axe being returned to country and received by a member of the Peak Hill Local Aboriginal Land Council. The axe was found during the construction of the Inland Rail. Photo courtesy of ARTC Inland Rail.
OUR NEWS
At Artefact we love seeing the careers of our dedicated staff members take off.
That’s why we’re happy to announce the promotion of Stephanie Moore to Team Leader of Historical Archaeology.
“I lead a team who think outside the box and adapt to changing project demands – which means no two days are the same. It’s a role that requires logic and reason, but also creativity, to interpret the past for a future audience. It’s an honour to share the stories we uncover, whether tragic, triumphant, or tantalising. I’m grateful to work with such a talented group of professionals.”
Steph is a natural leader and an incredibly dedicated archaeologist. She also has a love for industrial heritage – particularly railway infrastructure.
Outside of Artefact Steph holds the position of Secretary of the National Scientific Committee on Industrial Heritage (ICOMOS/TICCIH) and is a General Member of the National Trust Industrial Heritage Committee.
Congratulations Steph from everyone here at Artefact.
OUR NEWS
Here's a lovely news story about some of our recently completed Heritage Interpretation work.
Artefact worked with DesignInc and Transport for NSW to develop a Heritage Interpretation Plan and Statement of Heritage Impact for Denistone Train Station north-west of Sydney.
The station was upgraded as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Plan providing a better experience for public transport customers by delivering accessible, modern, secure and integrated transport infrastructure where it is needed most.
Artefact’s Interpretation Plan resulted in the inclusion of 3 interpretive panels outlining the unique history of the station, and the heritage of the Wallumedegall people of the area. Our work also included the patterning of the overhead walkway inspired by remnant blue gum forest of the area, and the reinstatement of the art deco front facade entrance feature to the station.
“It was really exciting to work on the heritage redevelopment of Denistone Station. Constructed in 1937, the station is has retained many of its original elements in a largely unmodified form,” says Carolyn MacLulich, Artefact’s Head of Interpretation. “The project not only allowed for modern and accessible access points but passengers can now also learn about the unique history of the area through the story-telling elements we developed.”
Read a short case study about our work on the project
Credit: Video courtesy and copyright of Channel 7 News.
OUR NEWS
Artefact recently completed a Heritage Item Review for Hornsby Shire Council where the team assessed local buildings, structures, landscape, and sites and provided recommendations for their inclusion or removal from key heritage registers.
We reviewed over 260 locations and prepared 80 inventory sheets for places which met the threshold for local heritage listing to assist Council manage the heritage resources of these assets into the future.
According to project lead Sarah-Jane Zammit “The Hornsby Shire is a treasure trove of heritage sites, some dating back to the mid-1800s and associations with convicts and the first settlers in the area. There are some wonderful examples of built heritage, particularly dating from the inter-war period of the 1920s and 1930s which is strongly linked to the development of the railway in the area. This development expanded the connectivity of the northern suburbs and spurred a plethora of subdivisions. It was a rewarding experience to capture, and document these places, and provide recommendations for their protection into the future.”
Read a short case study about our work on the project
Image: Mowll Village Group on Castle Hill Road constructed in the early 20th Century is an aesthetically significant late Federation Arts and Craft Style mansion, which likely the grandest house of its period in the area. The property also contains an original gate house, four farm buildings, wrought iron front gates and fence as well as elements of the original garden including the fountain and driveway.
OUR NEWS
Introducing Jordan Wilson-Aarsen who joins Artefact’s Built Environment team.
As part of the team Jordan works on conservation management plans, heritage impact assessments, building condition and dilapidation reports, and adaptive reuse advice.
With qualifications in materials conservation, anthropology, ancient history and biomolecular science Jordan has a wide variety of skills. His most recent role was as a fine art conservator specialising in Australian and Asia Pacific artworks.
“I love preserving pieces of history, big and small, so that the next generations can see where cultures from around the world developed," he says.
OUR NEWS
We've recently strengthened our presence in the Hunter Region with the establishment of a Newcastle office and the appointment of an experienced Heritage Consultant.
Kristen Tola joins Artefact as a Heritage Consultant providing extra capacity and bringing with her considerable skills in Aboriginal and historical archaeology as well as heritage management and interpretation. Kristen is well established in the area having provided input into the recently drafted Newcastle City Council Newcastle Heritage Strategy 2020-2030 and spearheading State Heritage Register nominations for historical buildings in Newcastle.
Kristen teams up with Artefact Technical Director Jenny Winnett who has been working on major heritage projects in the Hunter Valley over the past 6 years.
Read about our office opening here
Image: Kristen Tola, Dr Sandra Wallce and Jenny Winnett at Customs House Newcastle.
OUR NEWS
To better understand the motivations and passions of some our long-standing archaeologists, historians and heritage practitioners we sometimes put them on the spot and ask them five questions.
Here we profile Dr Michael Lever who's been with Artefact for the past 7 years working as a Heritage Consultant in our Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Team.
Michael's an archaeologist who's developed a reputation for his spirited and sometimes unconventional views of the heritage sector.
In this short Q&A he talks about lessons learnt, starting out, the future, and what enlivened him on that 'dig in Dapto'.
Read full article here
Image: Michael holding the Loftus Lane street sign during archaeological excavation works in the Sydney CBD.
OUR NEWS
Artefact was proud to be a Sapphire Patron of ICOMOS GA 2023 and Scientific Symposium this week and looks forward to participating in the next General Assembly in 2026.
Our sponsorship supported a session on Historic Urban Contexts & Industrial Heritage: Case Studies in Resilence, chaired by Anita Yousif (Artefact Director of Projects, ASHA President and ICOMOS Ambassador), which included presentations from around the world on a range of issues related to the conservation of buildings and challenges associated with the preservation and interpretation of industrial heritage sites.
It was also an honour to support Indigenous heritage professionals from outside of NSW to cover their ICOMOS GA registration and travel costs.
Carolyn MacLulich (Artefact Principal and Head of Interpretation and ICOMOS Ambassador) was a member of the grant selection committee. 17 grants were made available to Indigenous colleagues working in a wide range of heritage areas, including several to people from remote communities.
Thanks to the ICOMOS organising committee and ICOMOS Australia for producing such a fabulous series of heritage events this week and bringing together over 1,500 heritage professionals from all around the world.
Image - Anita Yousif (Artefact Director of Projects, ASHA President, ICOMOS Ambassador) and Carolyn MacLulich (Artefact Principal and Head of Interpretation, ICOMOS Indigenous Grants committee, ICOMOS Ambassador).
OUR NEWS
Wishing everyone a productive and engaging ICOMOS GA 2023.
10 Artefact staff members will attend ICOMOS over the next week as speakers, session chairs, ambassadors, delegates and tour guides.
Look out for HollyMae, Monika, Carolyn, Pedro and Katherine (pictured here from left to right) as well as the rest of the team already on-site.
We look forward to seeing our friends, colleagues and international guests at the various ICOMOS GA events.
Delegates & Speakers (General Assembly) 31 Aug – 9 Sep
Anita Yousif
Session Chair - Historic Urban Contexts & Industrial Heritage
Session Chair - ASHA-ICAHM Workshop
Introduction - Evolving Practice, Evolving Roles & Responsibilities
ICOMOS Ambassador
Carolyn MacLulich
ICOMOS Ambassador
Indigenous Grants Committee Member
Dr Bronwyn Hanna
Speaker - An Oral History of the Burra Charter
Dr Iain Stuart
Australian Representative – The ICOMOS TICCIH National Scientific Committee Meeting on Industrial Heritage
Delegates (The Youth Forum) 1 – 3 Sep
Katherine Chalmers
Kieran Murray
Monika Sakal
Tour Guides (The Greater Blue Mountains Day Trip) 6 - 7 Sep
HollyMae Steane Price
Katrina Stankowski
Pedro Silva
OUR NEWS
Congratulations to Anita Yousif on her recent promotion to Director of Projects at Artefact.
This means Anita will now lead a team of over 30 heritage consultants in the expert delivery of all projects we undertake.
Anita has had an impressive career so far with 30 years’ experience in archaeology and heritage management. She’s worked on major projects in Australia and overseas and we’re really happy to have Anita oversee and quality control our current slate of projects.
“As a solutions-focused person I believe open and honest communication always leads to the best project outcomes. Client satisfaction is my number one concern and I pride myself on having a flexible approach that can deal with unexpected changes in projects. I’m very excited to be at Artefact working with such a talented, passionate and dedicated team of professionals,” says Anita.
Anita is also the President of the Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology (ASHA) and will represent Artefact at the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) General Assembly and Scientific Symposium next week in Sydney.
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to support the NSW Aboriginal Archaeology Future Forum 2023.
This one-day event will be held on Friday 15 September 2023 at The Australian Museum on Gadigal Country in Sydney.
The forum on First Nations archaeology has a focus on community and Country, bringing community aspirations regarding archaeological research to the fore.
We encourage those from the Aboriginal community, archaeological consultants, heritage managers and researchers to attend.
The Artefact team forward to seeing you there.
Tickets are free and available here
Photo of Barkindji Country courtesy of Dr Amy Way.
OUR NEWS
Artefact congratulates our clients Arcadis Australia Pacific and Transport for NSW for gaining approval to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge Northern Access Cycleway.
Construction of the project means over 2,000 cyclists a day will soon avoid having to carry their bikes up and down the 55 steps that connect with Bradfield Park at Milsons Point. The existing stairs at Burton Street will be retained to uphold the historical significance and preserve the heritage fabric of the bridge and will continue to be available for pedestrians.
Artefact contributed to the cycleway project providing an Archaeological Assessment and Built Heritage Assessment which were key components of the approval process.
“Any project that looks to change elements of a structure as iconic as the Sydney Harbour Bridge comes with a unique set of challenges,” says Artefact Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace. “The work we carried out was complex and involved and was undertaken over many years. I’m happy the project offers an architectural solution which highlights the cultural values of the place.”
Artefact has a long and proud history working on the State Heritage Register listed Sydney Harbour Bridge across many heritage projects.
Read more about our work on the project here.
Artist's impression courtesy of Transport for NSW.
OUR NEWS
In exciting news we’re happy to announce the establishment of an office in Newcastle.
Artefact Principal and Excavation Director Jenny Winnett has been working on heritage projects in the Hunter Region over the past 6 years. It’s now time for us to strengthen our physical presence in the area with a local office to better service the needs of our clients.
You can now find Jenny and her team at:
Steel River Eco Estate
Unit 71, 8 Spit Island Close, MAYFIELD WEST NSW 2304
The Newcastle office is in addition to Artefact’s head office in Pyrmont Sydney.
We look forward to sharing more Artefact news from the Newcastle area in coming months.
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to now offer our clients Cultural Values Assessments.
Led by in-house anthropologist Dr Elizabeth Bonshek, we can provide assessments that capture the views and awareness of a group of people’s relationship with certain places or areas. This is particularly important when considering Indigenous people’s connection to Country and place.
“Cultural Values Assessments capture intangible values that archaeological methodology can’t address which we think allows for better decision making and consultation on projects. The assessment process can be useful where archaeological excavation and interactions on site can’t occur. This might be due to issues with access such as site contamination or other reasons,” says Dr Elizabeth Bonshek.
Liz and the team look forward to discussing how we can help on your next project.
OUR NEWS
Join Artefact’s Tony Barham who’ll present at the upcoming Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists evening talk.
As our in-house expert on geomorphology Tony has developed a new process for capturing and presenting stratigraphy data from test and salvage excavations to clients.
His talk, ‘Re-thinking Geoarchaeological Deposit Models for Australian Conditions’, looks at meshing regolith landscapes with site stratigraphy as heritage archives. The key aim is to portray the sites in the context of landscape history and past environments, Using examples from recent archaeological digs Tony will unpack his approach and demonstrate how it is being realised in practice.
Also speaking is Jakub Czastka who’ll discuss the application of coring and augering techniques to decide whether to did or not to dig.
The event is on Thurs 17 August at The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre in Sydney from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.
Click here for all the details
OUR NEWS
Artefact’s excavation director and industrial heritage expert Dr Iain Stuart was recently in Japan visiting the sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.
Iain was part of a panel of international experts, led by Sir Neil Cossons, that helped make the case for the sites to be listed on the UNESCO World Heritage register.
The nomination process took 16 years and the support from the Government of Japan, 19 local municipalities, owners of the working sites, and the local communities that hold component parts of the nomination.
Learn more about Artefact's industrial heritage work
Image - Dr Iain Stuart with Ms Koko Kato, Managing Director of Industrial Heritage Information Centre (www.ihic.jp) after having a tour the Centre.
OUR NEWS
Artefact’s Historian Dr Stephen Gapps appeared recently on the Inner West Icons podcast with his 4-year-old English Staffy Shadie.
In a wide-ranging discussion with presenter Bernie Hobbs Stephen explores the role of dogs and dingoes in early colonial Australia.
He touches on the use of dogs in warfare, as protectors, sources of warmth and why Petersham was originally called the Kangaroo Grounds.
Listen to the podcast here.
OUR NEWS
Meet Monika Sakal who started at Artefact a few weeks ago as a Heritage Consultant.
Monika has a background in architecture, urban planning, and cultural heritage management. She is a graduate of the University of Sydney and member of ICOMOS and the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
Monika's ‘artefact ‘is a convict arrow brick from Parramatta made in the early 1800s and her favourite quote is by 19th C Danish theologian Søren Kierkegaard - “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
OUR NEWS
Artefact congratulates our Built Environment Team for gaining prequalification status on the NSW Public Works Built Heritage Conservation panel.
This allows us to potentially work on some of NSW’s most crucial projects including hospitals, dams, water treatment plants and high schools.
The team - led by experienced conservation architect Scott MacArthur – are here to discuss your project needs.
Click here for more information about our Built Environment service offering.
Image: Artefact's Built Environment Team. From left to right - Scott MacArthur (Principal), Bronwyn Hanna (Senior Associate), Rachel Bikim (Heritage Consultant) and Jordan Wilson-Aarsen (Heritage Consultant).
OUR NEWS
This year we celebrate NAIDOC week with students studying Aboriginal Cultural Arts at TAFE NSW.
For 15 years artist and teacher Warwick Keen has been delivering Aboriginal Cultural Art Programs with TAFE NSW in Nowra.
Artefact had the pleasure of working with Warwick and his students to create concept artworks to potentially feature on interpretative panels on the new Nowra Bridge. As part of the process Bidgigal elder Uncle Sonny Simms and the Djiriba Waagura group accompanied students on a site visit to the area and discussed ways to bring local stories to life through art.
Student Anne-Mariee McIntosh, a Wiradjuri woman, said she was proud to be part of a group telling stories that are important to local Aboriginal people and the wider community. “These works are going to be there forever, hopefully, so it’s amazing to be learning about the history of the area and being able to impart that knowledge through art to our children and their children,” she said.
We look forward to seeing how these beautiful cultural expressions might be incorporated as part of Transport for NSW’s Nowra Bridge project.
Image: TAFE student Jenayah Ingrey with her artwork. Photo by Adam Wright, courtesy of TAFE NSW.
OUR NEWS
In partnership with our friends at IPWEA NSW & ACT (the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia) Artefact’s Alex Gaffikin is presenting an online heritage training course.
The course offers valuable insights into the world of heritage consulting and how their work impacts construction and public works projects. Participants will learn how to minimize delays caused by heritage considerations, ensuring smooth project execution.
Training will be conducted across two 3-hour sessions - 9am–12pm Tuesday 24 October and 9am–12pm Wednesday 25 October 2023.
Image: Courtesy of IPWEA
OUR NEWS
This year Project Director Anita Yousif and Principal Carolyn MacLulich and will represent Artefact at ICOMOS GA 2023 – the International Council on Monuments and Sites General Assembly.
We invite you to come and meet Anita and Carolyn where they’ll join 1,000 other delegates to discuss heritage changes taking place in the world around the themes of resilience, responsibility, rights and relationships. They are both GA2023 Ambassadors – so if you’re interested in attending and would like more information about what to expect then please reach out to us and we’ll put you in contact with Anita and Carolyn.
Artefact is also proud to be a Corporate Partner of ICOMOS providing travel bursaries for Indigenous Australians to attend.
We look forward to seeing you in early September at the International Convention Centre Sydney.
OUR NEWS
Today, on World Environment Day, we’re happy to launch environmental awareness training.
The course has been designed by our in-house environmental consultant Clinton Jurd – who has over 20 years practical experience in the sector. Clinton has a background in environmental education in his past roles at Penrith City and Sutherland Shire Councils. Before Artefact he was the Environmental Specialist at Endeavour Energy.
“We’re finding there’s a real hunger from our clients for introductory information about environmental protection legislation,” says Clinton. “Company Directors are seeing value in their staff knowing the basics of environmental protection and responsibility and we’re keen to support them. As a business passionate about heritage and the environment, we’re really excited to offer this new service.”
OUR NEWS
As we head toward the referendum on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament later this year, it is worth considering the long history of how governments have tried and failed to authentically listen to First Nations people.
Artefact’s Historian Dr Stephen Gapps and Lynda-June Coe have authored a fascinating article in The Conversation that charts historical ‘moments of support’ to recognise First Nations people.
Image credit - Benjamin Duterrau, The Conciliation 1840, oil on canvas. Purchased by the Friends of TMAG and the Board of Trustees, 1945. Collection: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, AG79.
OUR NEWS
Ever wondered what little mysteries you’ll find behind the fireplace and beneath the floorboards of 140-year-old buildings in Redfern?
Artefact’s Historical Archaeology Team recently completed work at 90-102 Regent Street in Sydney. The Victorian-era buildings were purchased by Wee Hur Capital and have been repurposed by Richard Crookes Constructions into modern student accommodation as part of a State Significant Development.
OUR NEWS
In the lead-up to the referendum later this year on whether we should change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Artefact's Managing Director Dr Sandra Wallace has made a statement about our company position.
Graphic device courtesy of voice.gov.au
OUR NEWS
We recently finished work for John Holland on a Heritage Interpretation Plan for the new state-of-the art Sydney Football Stadium at Moore Park.
Our challenge was to bring local heritage, sporting histories and Aboriginal histories together on the one site in a way that made sense to visitors.
OUR NEWS
Artefact congratulates all winners and finalists in the 2023 National Trust Heritage Awards.
To celebrate the occasion, we joined our industry colleagues for the award ceremony at Doltone House on Fri 12 May.
The Artefact team from left to right are Katrina Stankowski, Josh Symons, Bronwyn Hanna, Stephanie Moore, Scott MacArthur, Iain Stuart and Stephen Gapps.
OUR NEWS
Artefact is proud to support ICOMOS GA 2023 – the International Council on Monuments and Sites General Assembly.
As a Sapphire Patron, Artefact has made money available to assist Indigenous Australians from outside NSW attend the event in Sydney from the 31st August to the 9th September 2023.
“We’re delighted to help with travel bursaries so that Indigenous Australians can gain access to leading heritage professionals from around the world and hope these participants might use the platform to share their own narrative and give delegates an insight into Aboriginal culture and storytelling," says Dr Sandra Wallace, Artefact's Managing Director.
The Artefact team look forward to meeting the successful bursary participants at the event and learning about their work in the field of culture heritage.
Image: International Convention Centre Sydney. Image courtesy of Sydney.com
OUR NEWS
The Moorebank Intermodal Precinct is a major infrastructure project comprising of 850,000m2 of modern warehousing and freight management facilities.
Artefact was contracted to develop a salvage strategy to manage Aboriginal stone artefacts and scarred trees identified within the project area. Our work was required to address the conditions of state significant development approval.
Image: Shazda Brown from the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council preparing to place stone artefacts in the burial pit. Photo courtesy of LOGOS Property.
OUR NEWS
As part of an $8.7m upgrade Artefact was engaged to develop a Heritage Study of Good and Bridge streets and the surrounding area.
City of Parramatta Council wanted to offer residents, workers and visitors improved public spaces and amenity in the Sydney suburb of Granville.
Our work was embraced by Council and was used as the basis for a plan for a heritage street upgrade. The history of Good Street and its role in the development of Granville provided a rich and diverse source of stories that could be told through heritage interpretation.
OUR NEWS
Artefact has recently invested in a range of new high-tech field equipment and in-house expertise as we build capacity and efficiencies for our clients.
Included in the kit are a Polaris Offroad UTV; a Trimble Datalogger with DGPS Antenna; a portable 13,000L water tank with high-pressure pump and a new range of smaller archaeological dig tools. The new equipment is all contained in a customised Artefact trailer with offroad capability.
Our new hardware comes on the back of a slew of new hires.
Tony Barham brings geomorphology skills in-house as Artefact's new Principal in Aboriginal Heritage. And Bengi Selvi-Lamb joins the team as Senior Heritage Consultant with expertise in stone tool analysis.
OUR NEWS
Artefact's Michael Lever provides a thought-provoking article in the latest edition of Buried History - the journal of the Australian Institute of Archaeology.
His article explores existing understandings of the relationship between European settler Peter Beveridge and local Aboriginal people through a critical reading of documentary resources.
How much of Beveridge’s claims regarding Aboriginal people or his knowledge about their lifestyles should be accepted without careful scrutiny?
Image: Peter Beveridge circa 1865. Courtesy of La Trobe Picture collection, State Library of Victoria H10173.
OUR NEWS
Limited tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Sydney Historical Archaeology Practitioners Workshop on Friday 26 May in Sydney.
Presented in association with National Archaeology Week, this is your chance to hear directly from students, academics and heritage professionals working in the field.
Network with peers and learn about the latest research, new discoveries and sites that have recently been excavated.
OUR NEWS
Team Leader Clinton Jurd has broadened his formal qualifications, meaning we can help more organisations improve their environmental performance and reduce environmental risk.
His Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor certification now allows for a more integrated approach in helping our clients satisfy the independent audit requirements of SSD and SSI projects.
With Clinton now a JAS-ANZ approved Environmental Management System Lead Auditor our in-house environmental management skills have been significantly expanded.
"We're looking forward to working with our clients to assist them with environmental protection and to realise the associated cost saving benefits of having Artefact as an audit partner," says Clinton.
OUR NEWS
“International Women’s Day is an important time to reflect and to acknowledge the amazing women of Artefact, the heritage industry and beyond.
Throughout my life I’ve witnessed the challenges we face as women – misogyny, unpaid childcare, balancing household and professional commitments, as well as struggles about body image, confidence and speaking out that come from expectations ingrained in us by society from childhood.
Respect especially to our First Nations women who live all of this on top of racial discrimination.
Acknowledgement is the core of change and I’m immensely proud to lead this team of talented female professionals in making Artefact an agent of change for women.”
Dr Sandra Wallace
(Founder & Managing Director)
OUR NEWS
Artefact is lending its support for Trove – the online collections database managed by the National Library of Australia.
Artefact has signed a Parliament of Australia e-petition as well as writing to the Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke MP asking that Trove maintain Government funding into the future.
Principal Dr Iain Stuart spoke with ABC Radio's James Valentine recently about the value of Trove for small to medium heritage consultancy firms like Artefact.
OUR NEWS
Woollahra development projects may now require Aboriginal Heritage Impact Assessment.
Artefact's team of professionals can help provide a Due Diligence report, and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) to complete your DA. We have carried out recent projects in the Woollahra LGA including Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, Double Bay and Bellevue Hill.
Reports are prepared by our qualified Aboriginal heritage consultants on staff.
OUR NEWS
The theme of the 2023 Sydney Historical Archaeology Practitioners workshop is ‘Something New’, and we want to know, what is your ‘something new’? Presentations and papers are being sought for this workshop from students, academics and heritage professionals from both government and heritage consultancies who want the wider
archaeological community to know what new research they have been doing, what new results they have, or what new sites have they been excavating.
OUR NEWS
Artefact are excited to announce that we are now offering Environmental Assessment and Planning services to compliment out multidisciplined heritage and interpretation team. This move will support our growth trajectory and ability to provide a holistic environmental management service to our valued clients.
Clinton Jurd will be leading our Environmental Assessment and Planning team. He has over 20 years of experience in the industry and will bring with him technical expertise, industry contacts and a values driven approach.
With our new environmental impact assessment, management and planning service, Artefact now offers a broader range of environmental services. We will efficiently guide clients through the environmental, planning, assessment, and approvals process, whatever the project.
OUR NEWS
Artefact Heritage Consultant Michael Lever will be presenting a session at this year's NSW Aboriginal Archaeology Future Forum 2022 on Friday 26 August. Michael's talk is entitled Kosher, Halal and NSW Aboriginal heritage legislation.
Artefact Heritage is a sponsor of the event, which provide an opportunity to share knowledge; showcase current projects and achievements; and discuss aspirations for the future of archaeological conservation, research and heritage management. The event will include presentations from individuals and panel discussions on a range of areas important to community archaeology.
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