Archaeologists working on the shores of Sydney Harbour as part of the Metro project have uncovered a piece of history from the 1850s.
Footings of a home, as well as artefacts, from the 1850s-1900s, were discovered during heritage work at the Blues Point temporary retrieval site, a Sydney Metro spokesman said.
Items including dolls, tea sets, crystal drinkware, buttons and hooks were found inside the rooms of the cottages, verandahs and the yard areas.
Once tunneling is complete at the Blues Point Reserve site it will be backfilled and the parkland will be reinstated
The items give a glimpse of how families lived and worked at Blues Point in the mid to late 19th century, he said.
Many of the bowls, plates and dishes were made in the United Kingdom and decorated in hand-painted or transfer-printed patterns.
Copper nails and other material from the rooms and yards show that some residents made and repaired boats moored at nearby jetties.
The 19th century house was built prior to 1857 and is associated with John Stevens, who acquired the site from the estate of Billy Blue, after who Blues Point is named.
House foundations dating back to the 1800s and a seawall were discovered during excavation work at the Blues Point Reserve worksite
In 1817, Governor Macquarie granted William ‘Billy’ Blue, who came over as a convict and was of African descent, 80 acres of land on Sydney’s north shore.
Blue moved there with his family and the headland became known as Blues Point.
Any artefacts with a heritage value discovered during the tunnelling and excavation works will be recorded and preserved, the spokesman said.
Any artefacts with a heritage value discovered during the tunnelling and excavation works will be recorded and preserved
The artefacts are carefully packed and taken off site to be catalogued by artefact specialists.
Once the heritage investigations are complete, a report with the findings will be published and Sydney Metro will investigate how some of the artefacts can be appropriately displayed for the community.
Preliminary work at the site will continue for another three months, forcing a delay in the Metro City and Southwest rail project which is expected to be completed in 2024.