Howells’ Mill Parramatta 1849 By George Wickham. Courtesy of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
River Stories, Queens Wharf Reserve – Archaeological Project, Open Day, and Temporary Exhibition
With Client/Consultancy: City of Parramatta Council/Extent Heritage
Award: Martin Davies Award for Best Public Archaeology Initiative (2024)
Service areas: Historical archaeology, interpretation and placemaking, First Nations cultural heritage, stakeholder and community engagement.
River Stories was a public archaeology initiative developed alongside a major archaeological investigation at Queens Wharf Reserve, Parramatta, as part of the Active Transport Link project. The excavation encompassed significant convict-era features and the Parramatta Sand Body, bridging both historical and Aboriginal heritage.
A core part of the project was a significant investment from the City of Parramatta in public archaeology and community engagement. Madeline delivered an Interpretation Plan, ensuring a cohesive, holistic approach from excavation through to public engagement.
The initiative’s highlight was the award-winning River Stories Open Day, featuring a temporary exhibition Madeline curated, site tours, artefact displays, and an Aboriginal stone tool workshop. The program exemplified best-practice public archaeology, opening up access to archaeologists and the excavation process while situating discoveries within the broader cultural landscape of the Parramatta River.
Judge’s comments:
“The winner of the Martin Davies Public Archaeology Award for 2024 represents a great effort in ‘public archaeology’ access to archaeologists, and the archaeological process as well as the contextual information regarding the site and history. This broader landscape approach was refreshing, providing context and relationships for individual aspect of the site.”