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Parramatta Archaeological Management Unit 3104

Item
Name of Item: Parramatta Archaeological Management Unit 3104
Type of Item: Archaeological-Terrestrial
Group/Collection: Urban Area
Category: Other - Urban Area
Primary Address: O'Connell Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150
Local Govt. Area: Parramatta
Property Description:
Lot/Volume Code Lot/Volume Number Section Number Plan/Folio Code Plan/Folio Number
Lot 1 - DP 136153
Lot PT3 - DP 17614
- - - SP 18862
- - - SP 20212
- - - SP 2883
Lot 7 - DP 709622
Lot 1 - DP 719788
Lot 1 - DP 739389
Boundary: Bounded by O'Connell, Macquarie, Hunter and Pitt Streets. Excludes 17 Macquarie Street (DP 719788) and 2-6 Hunter Street (SP 18862).
All Addresses
Street Address Suburb/Town LGA Parish County Type
O'Connell Street 
Parramatta 
Parramatta 
St John 
Cumberland 
Primary 
Macquarie Street 
Parramatta 
Parramatta 
St John 
Cumberland 
Alternate 
Pitt Street 
Parramatta 
Parramatta 
 
 
Alternate 
Hunter Street 
Parramatta 
Parramatta 
St John 
Cumberland 
Alternate 

Statement of Significance

This AMU has high archaeological research potential.
This area was part of the early Rose Hill settlement and the commercial centre of Parramatta through the convict and colonial periods to the present day.
The physical archaeological evidence within this area may include structural features, intact subfloor deposits, open deposits and scatters, ecological samples and individual artefacts, which have potential to yield information relating to major historic themes including Commerce, Convicts, Cultural Sites, Government and Administration, Housing, Land Tenure, Law and Order and Townships.
Archaeological evidence at this site is likely to be subject to major disturbance.
This AMU is of Local significance.
Date Significance Updated: 06 Nov 00
Note: There are incomplete details for a number of items listed in NSW. The Heritage Branch intends to develop or upgrade statements of significance and other information for these items as resources become available.

Description
Physical Description: The subject area contains a five-storey carpark on the corner of O'Connell and Hunter Streets, with shops at street level. This is accessed through a ground-level carpark at 15 Macquarie Street. There is also a recent development at 7 Macquarie Street (Lot 2 DP 136153 and Lot 7 DP 709622), a three-storey office building with a central courtyard at 5 Macquarie Street and a disused garage on the corner of Macquarie and Pitt Streets. There is a three-storey apartment building on the corner of Hunter and Pitt Streets, with a ground-level carpark.
Physical Condition and/or
Archaeological Potential:
The subject area has moderate potential to contain intact subsurface deposits. The disused garage on the corner of Macquarie and Pitt Streets may have underground fuel storage tanks which would have significantly disturbed subsurface deposits in this area. There has been some terracing throughout the subject area due to the slope of the ground. No. 5 Macquarie Street was identified in the 1991 Archaeological Zoning Plan as having no archaeological potential, though the impact of the existing development within this allotment on subsurface deposits is uncertain. Most of the subject area appears to have had some disturbance with at least moderate potential for archaeological deposits to remain intact. This area has potential to contain archaeological deposits related to the early settlement period, including remains associated with convict huts, and structual and other evidence associated with subsequent residential and commercial development throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This evaluation is based on historical resources available to, and field survey undertaken for, the Parramatta Historical Archaeological Landscape Management Study 2000 (PHALMS). Analysis of available information has been extensive but not exhaustive. Some elements of the site represented in historical records may not have been discussed within the parameters of the PHALMS project. A comprehensive archaeological assessment of this AMU has not been undertaken. The ‘Recommended Management’ actions listed below indicate what may be required to manage archaeological resources within this AMU. Please note that all requirements may not be required for all parts of this AMU.  
Current Use: Commercial, carpark
Former Use: Convict hut allotments; residential

History
Historical Notes: Prior to 1809, leases that were granted to individuals at Parramatta were mainly on large acreages surrounding the Government town centre. While there were some free settlers in the town, it was prisoners' huts that dominated the town allotments. The first permanent dwellings constructed in the new town were concentrated along the principal thoroughfares of George, Macquarie and Church Streets. Allotments in George and Macquarie Streets were the site of a number of convict huts that were later occupied by free persons. Each of the convict huts was accompanied by a garden plot. From the earliest settlement, both the convicts and the garrison had been encouraged to plant gardens to relieve the pressure on the Government stores and to provide fresh produce to the town. The 1804 plan of the town indicates that there were a number of convict hut allotments along Macquarie Street (formerly South Street) within the subject area at this time. As O'Connell Street had not been laid out by this time, allotments extended into the curtilage of the current roadway.
In 1811, the newly arrived Governor Macquarie laid out the town of Parramatta in a grid pattern, extending Pitt and Macquarie Streets and creating a number of cross streets. Part of Macquarie's plan for Parramatta was the removal of all convicts into a barracks, completed in 1821. This opened up the town to increased settlement, as the former huts were vacated. Macquarie also implemented a system whereby, to obtain a town lease, the applicant needed to provide building plans prior to the approval of the lease. While the civilian population continued to rise from 1810, investment was hindered by this leasehold system.
By 1822, O'Connell Street had been laid out and there were a number of structures within the subject area, mostly along Macquarie Street, as well as in O'Connell and Pitt Streets. The allotments fronting Hunter Street were largely vacant at this time.
By 1844, there had been little further development within the subject area. Most of the buildings indicated on the 1844 Plan of the Town of Parramatta are probably the same ones shown on the earlier 1822 plan. All of these buildings were wooden, except for a brick building fronting Macquarie Street near the northeast corner of the subject area. The wooden buildings on each of the street corners (except the corner of Macquarie and Pitt Streets, formerly Pitt Row) were L-shaped and generally larger than those in the rest of the block.
The allotment configuration remained unchanged by 1871 and by 1895, there was little further development within the area. Development was concentrated towards the eastern end of the street block, with a number of buildings also along Macquarie Street. The 1895 Detail Survey plan for this area (Sheet 23) shows the location of outbuildings and wells within the rear yards of allotments and a drain running roughly north-south towards the eastern end of the block.
By 1951, there had been further development in this area (mainly residential), and, since 1951, the area has been further developed as a commercial area.

Historic Themes
Australian Theme (abbrev) New South Wales Theme Local Theme
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Why is there variability in the convict hut assemblages in Parramatta? What can this tell us about convict life? - Convicts Convict; Control; Consumption
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Gaol Town: How does the eighteenth-century gaol town of Parramatta compare with Sydney and the later, free town? - Convicts Convict; Control
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Convicts/Commercial: To what extent did convicts participate in commercial life? Did they carry out work from home? - Convicts Convict; Control; Production
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Free/Forced: What differences are there between the lives of free and forced or institutionalised settlers? - Convicts Convict; Control
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Convicts/Gender: In the married-convict, unmarried-convict and unmarried-female-convict huts of the 1790s, are there dif - Convicts Convict; Control
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Convict huts -
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Convict - Activities relating to incarceration, transport, reform, accommodation and working during the convict period in NSW (1788-1850) - does not include activities associated with the conviction of persons in NSW that are unrelated to the imperial 'convict system': use the theme of Law & Order for such activities Convict - Includes settlement in town and country, in prison and in employment.
2. Peopling - Peopling the continent Migration - Activities and processes associated with the resettling of people from one place to another (international, interstate, intrastate) and the impacts of such movements Peopling the continent - National Theme 2
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Convicts/Commercial: To what extent did convicts participate in commercial life? Did they carry out work from home? - Commerce Convict; Control
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Convicts/Commercial: Did convicts participate in commercial life? - Commerce Convict; Control
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Core/Periphery: Is Parramatta exploited as a classic 'periphery' by the 'core' of Sydney? Do the 1820s mark a change in - Commerce Production
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Economic Function: What function does Parramatta perform as the result of its physical position in relation to Sydney an - Commerce Consumption; Production
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Global Market: Were the people of Parramatta participating in a global market place? Does this increase as the fruits of - Commerce Consumption; Production
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Commercial Centre: Does nineteenth-century commercial growth in Parramatta differ from Sydney's? - Commerce Consumption
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Do Parramatta residents utilise mass-produced or home-spun goods? - Commerce Consumption
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Do Parramatta residents consume local products, such as cordial? - Commerce Consumption
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Commerce - Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services Commerce - Includes banking, retailing.
3. Economy - Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape - Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Developing local, regional and national economies - National Theme 3
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Accommodation - Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities. Building settlements, towns and cities - National Theme 4
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Accommodation - Activities associated with the provision of accommodation, and particular types of accommodation – does not include architectural styles – use the theme of Creative Endeavour for such activities. Housing - Includes the range from individual homes or homesteads to group accommodation.
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Land tenure - Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Leasehold Land after 1823 -
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Land tenure - Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Leasehold Land before 1823 -
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Land tenure - Activities and processes for identifying forms of ownership and occupancy of land and water, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Land tenure - Aboriginal and European; may include sub-divisions, fences, Survey marks etc.
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages - Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Macquarie's town layout -
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages - Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Phillip's town layout -
4. Settlement - Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages - Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Townships - May include present, former or aborted settlements, streetscapes.
7. Governing - Governing Government and Administration - Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Governing - National Theme 7
7. Governing - Governing Government and Administration - Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Government and administration - Includes maladministration.
7. Governing - Governing Law and order - Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes Prison colony -
7. Governing - Governing Law and order - Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes Law and order - Includes protest.
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Developing cultural institutions and ways of life - National Theme 8
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Artefact Assemblages: Are there differences between the assemblages of emancipists and convicts, Aboriginal people, indu - Cultural Sites Consumption
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. 1800–1810: What does the archaeological record tell us about this period? - Cultural Sites
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Consumption/Change: How did commerce and consumption patterns change? - Cultural Sites Consumption
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Identity: Is identity explicit in the archaeological record and at what scale does it manifest itself? What does this t - Cultural Sites Contact
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Class: How do people consciously express class identity through material culture? - Cultural Sites Consumption
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour - Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Cultural sites - From low to high culture, significant for the creation or performance of art, music, literature, drama, film etc., local symbols.
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Domestic life - Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions. Ways of life 1850-1900 -
8. Culture - Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Domestic life - Activities associated with creating, maintaining, living in and working around houses and institutions. Ways of life 1900-1950 -

Assessment of Significance
SHR Criteria a)
[Historical Significance]
This AMU provides evidence of a range of historical processes and activities relating to the history of Parramatta. Specific historical and associated values have not been assessed.
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic Significance]
The archaeological resources of this AMU have no known aesthetic significance although it is recognised that exposed in situ archaeological remains may have distinctive/attractive visual qualities.
SHR Criteria d)
[Social Significance]
The potential social values of this AMU have not been assessed. However, some places take on high social values as a result of community interest in archaeological investigations.
SHR Criteria e)
[Research Potential]
The archaeological resources of this AMU provide evidence of past human culture and activity, and therefore have potential to yield scientific and historical information.
SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity]
This AMU is likely to include scarce physical evidence relating to the early history of Parramatta, including the convict period.
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness]
This AMU includes archaeological resources which, as a set, provide a physical chronicle of the history of Parramatta.
 
Integrity/Intactness: Archaeological evidence at this site is likely to be subject to major disturbance.
Assessment Criteria Items are assessed against the PDF State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended Management Statutory: DCP. Statutory: NSW Heritage Act (Section 140). Site Requirement: Test Trench and Reassess. Site Requirement: Open Area Excavation. Interpretation: Signage Temporary. Interpretation: Public Program.
Recommendations  
Management Category Description Date Updated
Recommended Management  Prepare or include in a Development Control Plan (DCP)   
Recommended Management  Carry out an Archaeological Assessment   
Recommended Management  Carry out an Archaeological Assessment   
Recommended Management  Carry out an Archaeological Assessment   
Recommended Management  Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education   
Recommended Management  Carry out interpretation, promotion and/or education   

Listings
Heritage Listing Listing Title Listing Number Gazette Date Gazette Number Gazette Page
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 110      97 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 111      97 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 112      97 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 113      98 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 114      98 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 115      98 
Archaeological zoning plan    Parramatta Central 116      98-99 
Study Details
Title Year Number Author Inspected by Guidelines Used
PHALMS  2001    Godden Mackay Logan    Yes 

References, Internet links & Images
Type Author Year Title Internet
Links
Written  Terry Kass, Carol Liston and John McClymont  1996  Parramatta: A Past Revealed 
Written  Meredith Walker  1993  City of Parramatta Heritage Study 
Photograph  Land and Property Information  1951  Aerial photographs 
Map  Detail Survey Branch, Department of Lands, Sydney, NSW  1895  Detail Survey Series of Parramatta 
Map  Surveyor General's Office, Sydney  1871  Plan of the Environs of Parramatta, County of Cumberland, NSW 
Map  W. Meadows Brownrigg  1844  Plan of the Town of Parramatta and the Adjacent Properties, as surveyed by W. Meadows Brownrigg, Surveyor 
Map  G.C. Stewart  1822  Town of Parramatta Showing Urban Settlement (redrawn 1926 by Campbell) 
Map  Surveyor G.W. Evans  1804  Plan of the Township of Parramatta (later annotated) 
Map    1791  Hawkes River, showing the towns of Parramatta and settlements at Rose Hill, Field of Mars, Toongabbie 
Written       
Note: Internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

(Click on Thumbnail for Full Size Image and Image Details)

Data Source
The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Local Government
Database Number: 2243104

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

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