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T ~ ~~ Q994.41 I LYD I ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION I 'JOBBINS BUILDING' I 103·111 GLOUCESTER STREET, THE ROCKS, SYDNEY I I I I I I I I II rl il I I E.C.J.L YDON SYDNEY COVE AUTHORITY I 1993 I Q994.41 I LYD 1 ___ ,.. ... - --- ~ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~~~~m ,,ij~ltil~~i''~i ~ r,~r H00479-.· I I I This project formed part of the Sydney Cove Authority's on-going archaeological management program. I would like to acknowledge the work carried out on site by James Wallace and Sean Ryan, and the assistance of the enthusiastic volunteers who participated: Celia Jones, Charlie Guinness, Win Thompson, Kevin Barnes, Murielle Serenus, I Claire Everett, Michelle Madison, Kylie Seretis, Jenny Chambers, Eirann, Karen Lilling, Ken McGuffin, Catriona Lorane, Margaret Lorane, Anita I Waghom, Katherine Seton, Bridget Oitzinger, Michelle Maddison, Gerry King. Acknowledgement must be made of the help given by the NSW Department of Agriculture's Seeds Laboratory, in identifiying the seeds recovered, and Alan Home of CSIRO's Division of Exploration Geoscience in carrying out analysis of I a soil sample. Co-directors Brett Noble and Mafalda Rossi were great to work with; without I their assistance the project would not have reached completion. I I ('. C' 13 I I& Q I I I Cover photograph shows work in progress, looking across the site to the north. The rear of the unrestored te"ace, Jobbins' Building, is to the right. Longs Lane runs east-west across the foreground. 1 ---. I I I CONTENTS I VOLUME ONE I 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 2.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.1 Study area 5 I 2.2 Previous studies 5 2.3 Reason for study 6 I 2.4 Proposed development 6 3.0HISTORY 7 4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION I 4.1 Research Design 9 4.2 Methodology 9 I 4.3 Excavation summary 11 5.0 DISCUSSION 44 5.1 Early building in the Rocks 46 I 5.2 Early urban settlement 47 5.3 Mrs Ann Lewis, Boarding-house proprietor 49 I 6.0 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 52 7.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 53 I 8.0 ILLUSTRATIONS 54 I 9.0 REFERENCES 56 10.0 APPENDICES 58 10.1 Faunal remains : graphs I 10.2 Ceramics : graphs I VOLUME TWO Artefact catalogue "Jobbins' Buildings" Archaeological Investigations 2 I I I 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 Tile Project I This report presents the results of archaeological excavations carried out for the Sydney Cove Authority, which owns and administers the Rocks, Sydney. Excavation was carried out in the rear yard of the 1857 terrace known as "Jobbins' Building", I 103-111 Gloucester Street, and then focussed on the "sub-floor deposits" within the building. The site is near the top of the ridge overlooking Sydney Cove and was I known to have possibly been occupied from-the earliest years of the colony. 1.2 Results Evidence was found for occupation of the site from before 1800, in the form of traces I of a substantial brick and ceramic rooftiled structure, nearby but not on the site. A collapsed brick drain led away from this structure across the site. This structure was dismantled and followed by a less solid structure comprising timber posts set directly I into the ground, with packed earth floors. Remnants of decayed timber bearers resting on the ground were found. Artefacts suggesting domestic household occupation were associated with this phase. This evidence is unusually early in the context of archaeological investigation of European settlement in Australia, and is discussed I below (5.1, 5.2). The succeeding phase comprised an L-shaped structure shown first on an 1823 plan. I Traces of this building were found, comprising rough field stones bonded with a crude mud mortar. This too employed packed dirt floors. It was followed by the use of the site possibly for stablings: most of the site consisted of yard area, and the rectangular structure first shown on a plan of 1854 (Woolcott and Clarke) is I associated with this phase, possibly serving as a stable. It is possible that a portion of this structure still survives as part of the extant rectangular footings now incorporated I into the new development. In 1857 the terrace was constructed by ex-convict John Jobbins, fronting Gloucester Street, and backed by Carahers Lane. The yard area was used for outbuildings such as I a cess-pit behind 111 Gloucester Street. This cess-pit was sealed in 1865, and yielded evidence of Mrs Ann Lewis, Boarding-House Proprietor's tenancy (1861-1873). The 163 objects recovered illustrated various aspects of Mrs Lewis' household (see discussion, 5.3 below). Several sequences of sewerage and water services were found I to have been installed during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Use of available space intensified with urbanisation during the later nineteenth century. I 1.3 Statement of significance The following statement was prepared with reference to The Conservation Plan (Kerr 1990). It addresses aspects of the site's significance encountered during this historical I archaeological investigation; the site's architectural significance has been assessed elsewhere (Clive Lucas Stapleton and Partners 1990). 1.3.1 The site has the ability to demonstrate nineteenth century construction and I living spaces. 1.3.2 Together with contextual archaeological and historical evidence, the site demonstrates a rare long continuous use, since the 1790s, with little disturbance. I 1.3.3 The place and the archaeOI()gical material - the artefacts, analysis and documentation of the site's ~~~tion - provide evidence which demonstrates the nineteenth century te~~ tastes, usage of the site and general lifestyle. In I particular. it evidences thcf:~-OfMrs Ann Le~ boarding-house proprietor and her household, and Syd.nefSmith, cab driver in specific detail. I I "Jobbins' Buildings" Archaeological Investigations 3 I ------------ I 1.3.4 The site has the ability to demonstrate w.l.e changing character of nineteenth I century urban Sydney. 1.3.5 The building and site has strong associationallinks with John Jobbins, convict and grazier, having been known locally as "Jobbins' Building" throughout the life of ~I the terrace. 1.3.6 It is a rare example of a site yielding archaeological evidence of the pre-1830 period of European settlement in Sydney. II 1.3.7 The site is thoroughly documented, and so is a valuable resource, forming, together with other historical and archaeological projects carried out in the area, part of the significant Rocks' heritage area. I 1.4 Recommendations In the light of the analysis of evidence and the statement of significance presented I above, it is recommended that: 1.4.1 Remaining deposits be retained. 1.4.2 The remains are covered by semi-permeable mesh. This should be checked I regularly to ensure that the early and significant material beneath the new development is not endangered by mould, fungus or damp, for example. 1.4.3 The cemented areas in the yard are left intact. I 1.4.4 That further disturbance of the fabric is prevented. Specifically, the flora and fauna of new tenants should be monitored to ensure that damage does not occur. Installation of new services and repair or maintenance of the I exisitng services should be carried out with sensitivity and monitored by an archaeologist to prevent damage to surviving fabric. I 1.4.5 The north door to stables is retained and incorporated into the new studio building. 1.4.6 Interpretive signage is installed in the yard area. The tenants should be informed as to the historic and archaeologically significant nature of the site and buildings, both I as an educational and promotional exercise and to ensure their awareness of sensitive fabric. 1.4.7 In future archaeological investigation of this and adjoining sites, open plan I excavation should be employed due to the nature of past occupation: it is impossible to interpret remains which are fragmentary and discontinuous unless a reasonably large area is examined. I 1.4.8 No further archaeological excavation on Jobbins' allotment is required, unless relevant research questions are raised. It is considered that archaeological potential of the terrace site site has been realised. 1.4.9 Investigation of the rest of the area - the adjoining allotments to the north (now I vacant), south, across Longs Lane, south-west and west (across Carahers Lane) is highly desirable, given the "platform" constituted by the results of this project. The area represents an opportunity to glean an unparalleled, dense picture of early life in I the colony. I I I I I "Jobbins' Buildings" Archaeological Investigations 4 I I I .i N I WALSH SAY I I I II II II I I > I I I I I I I I I Location plan~ 103-111 Gloucester Street, the Rocks, Sydney. I I --:_______:__ __..:_____ - ~ - ~ ___ I I 2.0 INTRODUCTION Archaeological investigation of the site of "Jobbins' Buildings", 103-111 Gloucester Street, the Rocks was carried out between August 1992 and January 1993. Excavation I in the yard area occurred August-September 1992. Monitoring of service installation was carried out between January and April1993. Excavation of sub-floor deposits was carried out dv.ring conservation works to the building between December 1992 I and January 1993. Direction of excavation, monitoring and subsequent preparation of this report were carried out by Jane Lydon for the Sydney Cove Authority. Brett Noble co-directed I excavations in the yard area, and Mafalda Rossi co-directed work on the interiors of the 1850s terrace.