MTS Heritage was engaged to prepare a maritime archaeological assessment (MAA) for the proposed development of Barangaroo Central. Heritage NSW required a maritime archaeologist prepare the MAA as part of the State Significant Infrastructure Development Application due to archaeological works on neighbouring allotments uncovering extensive maritime archaeological remains associated with early maritime industries at Darling Harbour.

The assessment identified three phases of maritime industry within the project area, dating from the 1830s through to the 1960s. Prior to the development, the project area was a beach foreshore area but was mostly located within the waters of Darling Harbour. From the 1830s onwards several private wharves and seawalls were constructed along the former foreshore supporting commercial intra and interstate trade. Over the next 40 years, these wharves were expanded and replaced with longer, larger wharves, catering for the growth and evolution of larger trading vessels that came into Sydney Harbour.

Located immediately to the north of the project area from the 1860s onwards was Cuthbert’s Shipbuilding Yard, one of the largest operations in the Southern Hemisphere. The wharves and slipways extended out in the Darling Harbour and into the project area. This also included the harbour moorings, typically used to conduct overwater fit-out and repair works.

Based on an understanding of the maritime history and findings of nearby previous archaeological excavations at Barangaroo, the MAA identified there was archaeological potential for the remains of former wharves, seawalls and other infrastructure dating from the 1830s, as well as the potential for former seabed deposits relating to the historic use of those wharves. The mass reclamation works in the late 1960s removed much of the post 1900 wharf structures; however, these works have capped the seabed preserving potential archaeological relics.

By preparing the MAA, which involved mapping the location of wharves, seawalls and other areas of archaeological potential, the project team was able to understand the opportunities that exist within the project development area and prepare appropriate mitigation measures for future stages of the development.