Hidden historic artefacts unearthed at Nylex Clock site to underpin pop-up museum

Melbourne’s Nylex Clock site will get a pop-up museum, after more than 1000 artefacts were unearthed in demolitions.

Extent Heritage Archaeologist and heritage consultant Elizabeth Hawksley has been working on and off at the Nylex Clock site since 2017 and said it was “amazing” they had uncovered so much at “such an impacted site”.

“This is how Melburnians once enjoyed themselves, there’s evidence of the social and domestic side of what is essentially an industrial site,” Ms Hawksley said.

“We are still able to find these beautiful moments frozen in time.”

Alongside the artefacts, most still being checked for significance, the works have uncovered the foundations to an 1850s-era bluestone cottage believed to be one of the first buildings at the historic site.

A pop-up museum will help Melburnians better understand the city’s history and how it has evolved and we look forward to launching this soon.

For the full story, including how heritage aspects of the site will be blended into new construction, click the link to go to the Herald-Sun.

Image of Liz Hawksley and our client Joe Russo from Cayden taken by Jake Nowakowski.