Baseline Archaeological Assessment & Statement of Heritage Impact Historical Archaeology Cumberland Precinct Sports & Leisure Precinct Parramatta North Urban Renewal – Rezoning Parramatta Asylum in the 1880s showing the Female Factory buildings, boundary walls, and the three-storey Gipps’ ward (left) with the central 1860s block built for the criminally insane and on the right the extant spinal wing. Terry Smith Collection Report to UrbanGrowth NSW October 2014 i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RESULTS Cumberland Precinct There is a substantial and significant archaeological resource within the Cumberland Precinct. Casey & Lowe were involved in a number of design meetings for the rezoning and Masterplaning and had input into the likely impacts in various areas. At an early stage we identified areas where the archaeological remains were of such significance that they needed to be conserved in situ. Generally this advice has been taken and potential design impacts avoided. In some areas the approach adopted was to undertake archaeological testing to determine if significant remains survive so that the design of potential buildings could respond to the results of the testing. Areas of the Cumberland Precinct are considered to be of State (S) significance, with some potentially of National (N) significance (Figure 5.1, Figure 5.2): 1. Female Factory & Asylum Precinct (S/N) 2. Mill races associated with Government water mill (S/N) 3. Marsden’s Mill Precinct (S) 4. Mrs Betts’ Precinct (S) 5. Isolation Ward Precinct for potential archaeology of Charles Smith (S) 6. Female Weatherboard Division (S), although this report questions the ranking of this site as containing archaeology of State significance. 7. Parramatta Gaol, although this requires further assessment. In terms of managing this site into the future, archaeological areas 1, 2 and 3 should be retained in situ and interpreted within this place. Strategies for interpretation should be identified in an Interpretation Strategy with Interpretation Plans for individual precincts. Mrs Betts’ Precinct (4) and the Isolation Ward (5) may contain the potential archaeology of Charles Smith’s early occupation of the site which may be of State significance, though there are likely to be more impacts in these areas through later phases of buildings. In addition, we do not have a clear idea of where the archaeology associated with Charles Smith is located and therefore it is hard to plan for this. It is possible that some of archaeology associated with Charles Smith’s farm may be within the Female Factory & Asylum precinct as well as Mrs Betts’ and the Isolation Ward precincts. The archaeological remains found in the other areas of PNUR are generally considered to be of local significance (Figure 6.2). Sports & Leisure Archaeological areas within the State significant cultural landscape of Parramatta Park cannot be divorced from this Nationally significant landscape. The sites of potential National and known State significance should be retained in situ and interpreted. As the sites of local significance are within this same significant cultural landscape they should also be retained in situ and interpreted. It is noted that the area proposed to be rezoned does not impact on any known archaeological sites within this precinct although they do come close to the Government Farm. _________________________________________________________________________________ Casey & Lowe Baseline Archaeological Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact Cumberland Precinct and Sports & Leisure Precinct ii RECOMMENDATIONS The proposed Masterplan identifies many possible impacts on the potential archaeological resource (Figure 6.1). The following general recommendations are made to protect the potential archaeological resource within the Cumberland Precinct and the Sports & Leisure Precinct: Cumberland Precinct General Recommendations 1. That all archaeology of potential National/State significance should be retained in situ, be interpreted and opportunities for further research be investigated. Sites with potential archaeology of State/National significance within the Cumberland Precinct are: . Female Factory & Asylum Precinct (S/N) . Mill races associated with Government water mill (S/N) 2. That the potential State significant archaeology of Marsden’s Mill Precinct (S) should be retained in situ. 3. Where there are opportunities other potential sites with archaeology of State and local significance should be retained in situ. Where this is not possible they need to be subject to detailed archaeological investigation. 4. Some areas currently assessed as having archaeology of State significance may not meet this level of significance under the new assessment guidelines, such as the Female Weatherboard Division, Isolation Ward, and Norma Parker Centre. These areas should be subject to archaeological testing and assessment to determine if they contain a significant resource and reassessed as part of an overall Archaeological Assessment. 5. There are many potential sites and areas of local significance within the Cumberland Precinct. All precincts or potential development areas need to be subject to detailed Archaeological Assessment which identifies appropriate recommendations for their management. 6. All Statements of Significance within this precinct need to be updated in accordance with the 2009 guidelines, Assessing significance for historical archaeological sites and ‘relics’. 7. All artefacts from the Cumberland Precinct need to be stored in an on-site repository in perpetuity so as to be used for research. 8. All excavation works within SHR areas require an approval under the Heritage Act, 1977, either an S57(2) Exemption or a S60 approval. Excavation works outside the SHR boundaries may require approval under S139/S140 of the Heritage Act, 1977. 9. An Archaeology Management Strategy (AMS) should be written to clarify gaps in knowledge through testing, provide certainty for development in key areas of significance and provide a step by step strategy for development of individual State significant precincts. The PNUR Archaeological Management Strategy should include: . Archaeological testing of areas of National and State significance where there is a need for clarification of archaeological potential and significance so as to inform design for the DA stage. Archaeological testing to inform enabling works, such as service upgrades, new roads, geo- technical and remediation investigations. Updated Statements of Significance and assessment of archaeological potential following archaeological testing. Include preparation of an Archaeological Research Framework to inform all archaeological work within the redevelopment areas. Areas of local significance may be undertaken as separate assessments and will not be tested as part of the AMS. Areas likely to require archaeological testing include: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Casey & Lowe Baseline Archaeological Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact Cumberland Precinct and Sports & Leisure Precinct iii • Sections along the mill race to assist with understanding issues relating to: o The upgrade of the sewer pipe but also to confirm existence in both the public domain areas and within development parcels that may be affected by its presence. o Condition of remnants of the race in the Linen Service. o East and southeast of the Recreation Hall, to the north of the Nurses Home, in the Cell Block Extension (Woodyard area), at the south end of the Norma Parker Centre and perhaps into the Sports and Leisure Precinct—the latter to assist with the Fleet Street extension. • Within the Female Factory/Asylum Precinct: o The footprint of the Punishment Cells in the Cell Block Extension. o The footprint of the proposed new development in the northeast corner of the Female Factory/Asylum Precinct. • The site of Mrs Betts’ House. • The site of buildings associated with Charles Smith's Farm (although perhaps this may not be possible given the lack of certainty as to where it might be?). • The southern end of the Marsden’s Mill site, which may extend into F1. Specific requirements for each precinct are outlined in table below. Archaeological testing with the Cumberland Precinct will require approvals under S57(2) or S60 of the Heritage Act, 1977. Sports & Leisure Precinct The proposed Masterplan has no identified impact on the potential archaeological resource of National/State or local significance. It is possible roadworks associated with the extension of Fleet Street may involve some works in the area of the Government Mill water race and if this is the case it would require archaeological testing. Archaeological testing for the extension of Fleet Street is mostly outside the SHR boundary and requires approval under S139/S140 of the Heritage Act, 1977. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Casey & Lowe Baseline Archaeological Assessment and Statement of Heritage Impact Cumberland Precinct and Sports & Leisure Precinct iv Table from Section 6 outlining analysis of proposed Masterplan impacts (Figure 6.1, Figure 6.2) and identification of initial archaeological issues and actions (Table 6.1) Masterplan Precinct Re-Assessed Re-Assessed Item Name/Description/Archaeology Present Issues Action if Impact Proposed Area (C&L) Potential Significance CUMBERLAND A1, A2, A3, Eastern Areas of local significance only. Possible archaeology within standing structures Substantial redevelopment.