EXPLORING HISTORY UNDERFOOT WITH THE COMMUNITY OF PARRAMATTA: River Stories Open Day!

Towards the end of 2023, Extent Heritage staff spent a wonderful day meeting the community of Parramatta.
 
At Queens Wharf Reserve, on the banks of the Parramatta River, Extent Heritage has been undertaking an archaeological test excavation in preparation for a new shared cycling and footpath.
 
From open pits to historical displays, the open day brought the community together and immersed them in history. We also displayed a selection of artefacts that people could actually handle—which proved to be a hit with local kids.
 
Our open day centred on River Stories, a mini-museum display which paid homage to each chapter of the area’s history, and to the people who have built lives and communities around the river. Each chapter has left its mark in the soil, where archaeologists have found a range of artefacts and features from the many layers of time—from Aboriginal land-use, stretching back thousands of years.
 
“We had a wonderful turnout,” says Extent Heritage Director Madeline Shanahan. “All different generations, kids, people really just wanting to come out and have a chance to talk to us about archaeology, and learn more about their place.”

Extensive excavations around Parramatta have uncovered many stories, from tens of thousands of years of Aboriginal occupation to its life as a bustling semi-industrial area 150 years ago. “This location was so important in the development of the early town of Parramatta,” says Extent Heritage’s National Technical Lead Brian Shanahan. “There were so many things happening here, and it’s practically all concealed.”
 
We’d like to acknowledge the City of Parramatta Council for funding and facilitating the archaeological test excavation and reporting process, as part of the statutory approvals from Heritage NSW for the construction of the new shared pathway through Queens Wharf Reserve, Parramatta. And we’d like to thank Freeman & Marx for providing their expertise and examples of stone tools showing knapping techniques and material from across Australia; and the community of Parramatta for coming out to explore archaeology with us.

NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
#openday #parramatta #archaeology #communityengagement