Unearthing the cultural history of the former Williams Creek valley and Wurundjeri Woiwurrung life in what is now the heart of the city.
A public lecture presented by the Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria. Speakers: Chris Clark (Extent Heritage), Caroline Spry (Wurundjeri Corporation), & Jim Wheeler (Extent Heritage).
European colonisation of the area that is now Melbourne’s CBD dramatically modified a landscape that was intensively occupied and used by Aboriginal people. The establishment of Hoddle’s Grid in 1837 required levelling of hills, filling of wetlands and removal of waterways to achieve the planned rectangular shape of the fledgling city.
Radiocarbon dating, pollen and artefact analysis from two major archaeological projects undertaken by Extent Heritage, have generated data that illustrates the changing environmental characteristics of Melbourne in this period of colonisation.
This presentation will discuss excavations at the historic Munro site (adjacent to Queen Victoria Market) which revealed the profile of the original William Street Creek which ran approximately along the alignment of the present Elizabeth St.
Flooding, exacerbated by changes to the Creek, led to the nineteenth century Melbourne Council edict to raise street levels in the city. From the excavations, we can further our understanding of the impacts on the early colony, both for Aboriginal people and Europeans, of the manipulation of the landscape.
Analysis of the Munro and Elizabeth Street sites can also be used to ask how the impacts of settlement and key historic events in the city’s development have affected both the formation and preservation of archaeological sites in the Melbourne CBD.
When: 6.30-7.30pm AEST, Thursday 19 May 2022
Where: In person and online
In person: The Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre, 251 Faraday Street, Carlton Vic (due to limited space, please ensure you register online via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/org/3407884365?s=13128507)
Online: via Zoom (please register via https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcOuorDIiG9WB-z2zx1qPFAREReQI6B2H)
For more information: email arcsocvic@yahoo.com.au