24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment Report to Virginia Kerridge Architect November 2019 Page i 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment Document history and status Revision Date issued Reviewed by Approved by Date approved Revision type 1 18/11/2019 JW & JvB JW 18/11/2019 Internal draft review 2 21/11/2019 AGC AGC 21/11/2019 Client review 3 22/11/2019 JvB JW 22/11/2019 Final Author: Sarah Hawkins, Jayden van Beek, and Jenny Winnett Project manager: Jenny Winnett Project number: 19154 Name of organisation: Artefact Heritage Document version: Final © Artefact Heritage Services This document is and shall remain the property of Artefact Heritage Services. This document may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the Terms of the Engagement for the commission. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. Disclaimer: Artefact Heritage Services has completed this document in accordance with the relevant federal, state and local legislation and current industry best practice. The company accepts no liability for any damages or loss incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the document content or for any purpose other than that for which it was intended. Page ii 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Artefact Heritage has been engaged by Virginia Kerridge Architect to prepare a Historical Archaeological Assessment (AA) for 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point. This AA will accompany a Development Application (DA) and support a Section 60 application to Heritage NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Heritage NSW, DPC) for proposed works at the property including renovation and refurbishment works, construction of an extension at the rear of the lower ground floor, and minor landscaping works. The study area has been identified as being a heritage item of state significance. The property is listed on the State Heritage Register (SHR) as SHR No. 00905 – ‘Terraces’ and is included in Schedule 5 of the City of Sydney Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2012 as part of Item No. I950, Terrace Group (No. 24-32 Argyle Place), including interiors.’ The study area is also within two SHR listed conservation areas: Millers Point Conservation Area (SHR No. 00884) and Millers Point and Dawes Point Village Precinct (SHR No. 01682). This AA provides a detailed assessment of archaeological potential and significance and an impact statement relating to the proposed works. Conclusions • The site at 24 Argyle Place was originally part of a land grant made to Susan and/or Thomas Newman in the 1830s. the site as purchased by William Cole in 1844, at which time the terraces known as Cole’s Buildings were constructed • The terrace was rented by several working-class tenants throughout the 19th century. It was acquired by the NSW Housing Commission in the early 1900s in association with the resumption of the Millers Point area • 24 Argyle Place is an item of state significance on the SHR (SHR No. 00905), Sydney LEP 2012 (Item No. I950), and is within two SHR listed heritage conservation areas (SHR No. 00884 and SHR No. 01682) • 24 Argyle Place has potential to contain archaeological remains of state and local significance including: − Interior » Low-moderate potential for locally significant underfloor deposits including within ceiling cavities − Exterior » Low potential for State significant remains associated with a c.1823 building, undocumented structures including cesspits or wells, rubbish pits and yard scatters, demolition fills, and gardening soils » High potential for locally significant structural remains associated with the mid-1850s outhouse and the (partially extant) c.1889 outbuilding » Low archaeological potential for locally significant artefactual deposits associated with cesspits, rubbish pits or yard scatters from 1845-1900 » High potential for artefactual deposits associated with the backfilling of former outbuildings Page iii 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment • The proposed renovation, extension and landscaping works have low potential to impact significant archaeological resources: − Internal replacement of floorboards would not be expected to impact underfloor deposits unless it is determined that remediation is required − Landscaping works may impact former structures, artefactual deposits associated with wells, cesspits, or rubbish pits, yard scatters, or yard surfaces from the 1800s. However, the landscaping works would be relatively shallow • Impacts to significant archaeological remains within an SHR curtilage require approval under the NSW Heritage Act 1977 (Heritage Act). Recommendations • This report should be submitted with the DA to City of Sydney and subsequent Section 60 application to Heritage NSW, DPC (Delegate of the Heritage Council of NSW) for the proposed works • The archaeological investigation during the construction program should include the following: − Archaeological monitoring and recording of ground disturbance works in the rear yard − Archaeological site inspection following the removal of internal ground floor surface and prior to preparation for installation of new services and new surfacing on each floor of the house, including recording and photography of any underfloor or ceiling cavity deposits − Archaeological monitoring of removal of the sandstone yard surface and sandstone wall to check for additional subsurface remains − Archaeological monitoring of the removal of the banana trees and secondary brick outbuilding which has been repurposed as a garden bed to check for additional subsurface remains − Any archaeological remains uncovered during construction that would not be impacted by the proposal must not be disturbed − Archaeological salvage of any locally significant remains, identified in the rear yard or interior, prior to impact − If State significant archaeological remains are unexpectedly identified then works must cease and further assessment or approval may be required before works could resume − An unexpected finds procedure for the construction program should be established • An unexpected finds policy should be adhered to during any works not monitored by an archaeologist. If unexpected finds are encountered during works all works should cease immediately and an archaeologist should be contacted for advice • Should Aboriginal objects be uncovered during the archaeological investigation or construction program, works should cease immediately and Heritage NSW, DPC is to be notified in accordance with Section 89A of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. Further approval would be required to impact, harm or remove Aboriginal objects Page iv 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment • If significant archaeological remains are identified, then options must be considered for either redesigning to avoid impacts or to incorporate the remains into the yard plan while retaining them in situ. Page v 24 Argyle Place, Millers Point Historical Archaeological Assessment CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project background ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Study area .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Authorship and acknowledgements ....................................................................................... 1 2.0 Legislative Context ................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 .......................................... 3 2.2.1 Commonwealth Heritage List ............................................................................................. 3 2.2.2 National Heritage List ......................................................................................................... 4 2.3 Heritage Act 1977 ................................................................................................................... 4 2.3.1 The 2009 ‘Relics provisions’ ............................................................................................... 4 2.3.2 The State Heritage Register (SHR) .................................................................................... 5 2.3.3 Section 170 Registers ........................................................................................................ 6 2.4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 .............................................................. 7 2.4.1 City of Sydney Local Environment Plan 2012 .................................................................... 7 2.5 Non-statutory registers ........................................................................................................... 8 2.6 Summary of heritage listings .................................................................................................. 8 3.0 Historical Context ................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Millers