A new archaeology education centre and unique low-cost accommodation is now available in the heart of The Rocks in Sydney.

Sydney Harbour YHA and The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre are located on ‘The Dig Site’ at Cumberland and Gloucester Streets, where structural remains dating from 1795 and more than 750,000 artefacts have been found since excavation began in 1994.

To preserve and showcase these archaeological remains, the YHA is raised off the ground on pillars and an on-site archaeology education centre is available to education groups.

The project is the largest archaeological urban development ever completed in Australia.

The most important elements of this new development include:

• An innovative archaeology education centre (‘The Big Dig’) catering for both local and overseas group visitors. The Big Dig uses simulated archaeological digs, interpretation and other resources – offering visitors a fascinating insight into The Rocks and Australia’s early settlers’ history.
• A purpose-built 106-bedroom YHA with 354 beds and associated communal facilities within a 3-4 level building – the first and only low-cost accommodation option for people wishing to stay in The Rocks.
• A retail shop at the Cumberland Street level.
• The re-establishment of the original lane-ways (Cribbs Lane and Carahers Lane) completing the pedestrian path of travel from George Street, via Susannah Place, to the pedestrian walkway over the Sydney Harbour Bridge opposite the site.
• Public access to the site including a large open area on Gloucester Street where the most significant remains are located.

All plans outlined below for the Sydney Harbour YHA and the Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre have been approved by the NSW Department of Planning.

 

The Dig Site

The project site, previously known as The Dig Site (“the site”) (at 106-128 Cumberland Street and Gloucester Street, The Rocks), is an important archaeological site within the historic Rocks precinct and was the subject of an archaeological excavation in 1994.

The archaeological excavation exposed the remains of a variety of sandstone and brick features, footings and post holes relating to 46 historic buildings on the site. Sandstone rock features, both natural and worked, were also exposed, and some 750,000 artefacts were recovered from the site. Archaeological investigations undertaken in 2008 in preparation for the building works recovered some further 250,000 artefacts, bringing the total recovered from the site to over 1 million. For more information, visit the ‘Site History’ page.

How are the archaeological remains protected?

A steel truss system raises the building off the ground on a series of pillars, minimising points of contact with the ground and interference with the remains. The location of the footings has been carefully negotiated between architectural, heritage, archaeological, structural and geotechnical consultants. The building is made of lightweight steel.

During construction, access to the site and the types of machinery used was carefully overseen by an archaeologist and protective structures will be used to cover the remains.

To ensure the remains were appropriately managed following construction, YHA worked with consultants, International Conservation Services (ICS), to determine a schedule for conservation works to stabilise the remains and lessen future deterioration. Vulnerable elements that do not require exposure for viewing are protected by layers of geotextile, sand and gravel.

Observation points allow public viewing whilst interpretative screens limit visitors’ movements through the site and protect it from further erosion.

Layout of the YHA building

The development comprises a 106-bedroom YHA youth hostel with communal kitchen, dining and activity areas, staff areas, a small retail component and education centre and groups’ area.

The YHA youth hostel is divided by Cribbs Lane into two separate three-storey buildings. The two separate components of the YHA are linked via a bridge suspended over Cribbs Lane. The southern building is separated from the archaeology education centre building by Carahers Lane. Both YHA buildings are suspended approximately one storey above the remains, providing access to the majority of the site. Both buildings have an internal courtyard providing open walkway access to the bedrooms, cross-ventilation as well as a view of the remains from the interior of the YHA.

Interpretive screens and site interpretation

Lightweight metal-mesh screens cover part of the façade of the building to provide a visual representation of the scale and form of the site’s original buildings in a two-dimensional form. The screens are located at Cumberland and Gloucester Streets and along both sides of Cribbs and Carahers Lanes. There are openings in the screens where original window and door openings were located to assist visitors’ interpretation of the site.

Signs provide historical interpretation of findings discovered on the site and direct visitors’ eyes to significant and interesting site remains.

It is envisaged an audio tour will be available for download onto personal MP3 players and audio devices will be available for hire from the YHA reception. The audio tour will be downloadable from yha.com.au, which will be accessible through the YHA’s Internet terminals.

The Sydney Harbour YHA

Interpretive elements have been incorporated into the interior design of the YHA to ensure guests are aware of the history and significance of where they are staying and there are information panels throughout the YHA. The building is designed so that all bedrooms lead out to an open corridor that allows guests to see down onto the archaeological remains.

The ground level foyer allows guests to view the archaeological remains – it has open areas and walkways of stainless steel mesh raised above the remaining external walls and basement steps of the former Australian Hotel. From the foyer, a stairway and lift provide access to the YHA and reception area.

The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre

The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre is used by education groups interested in learning about the archaeological and historical significance of the site. The centre facilitates experiential learning through hands-on activities and learning through historical interpretation. For more information visit the Education page.

Open area

The open area adjacent to the centre (along Carahers and Cribbs Lanes) is separated from the lane-ways by a one-metre high metal fence. The fence is supported from upright posts, which are positioned where original post supports once stood.

Physical access to this open area is controlled and will only occur as part of a structured, supervised program, or by authorised personnel.

The Lane-ways and Public Access to The Site

The original lane-ways (Cribbs Lane and Carahers Lane) have been re-instated and publicly accessible through the day. The lane-ways complete the pedestrian path of travel from George Street, via Susannah Place to the pedestrian walkway over the Sydney Harbour Bridge (opposite the site on Cumberland Street).

Sydney Harbour YHA staff manage access to the site, with Sydney Learning Adventures (Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority) and Historic Houses Trust (which manages the Susannah Place museum opposite) running courses on-site.

From the Cumberland and Gloucester Street footpaths, people are able to view the remains through metal interpretative screens.

Social, Environmental and Economic Impacts of the Development

The Sydney Harbour YHA and The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre are part of a a low impact, high profile development that creates positive impacts for Sydney, the site and the immediate Rocks area. These positive impacts can be summarised as follows:

• The establishment of the YHA promotes this archaeological dig site to Australian residents and international visitors.
• Commercial redevelopment has a positive impact on the long-term preservation of the site as it ensures an income stream for conservation. YHA NSW is a not-for-profit organisation that returns profits from earnings back into its capital assets – in this case the Dig Site facility and YHA. YHA is genuinely interested in the preservation and educational values of the site and YHA’s organisational structure assures long-term viability for the area.
• YHA, as a community conscious organisation, is aware of the potential for impacts on residential neighbours and independently implements Management Plans for the control of guest behaviour in a concerted effort to minimise impacts on neighbourhoods.
• YHA controls the management of the Dig Site, including security and maintenance roles, to ensure that the facility is protected and preserved.
• YHA has actively pursued an environmentally friendly design for the buildings to minimise electricity use and water wastage.

YHA believes this development represents a positive outcome for the site’s future and preservation, whilst also providing for a viable hostel enterprise.

YHA’s team of consultants

Built NSW Pty Ltd — Building Contractor
Tzannes Associates — Architecture Urban Design
Design Collaborative Pty Ltd — Town Planners
Elton Consulting — Communication Consultants
Fire Engineering Design Pty Ltd — Fire Consultants
Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd — Heritage Consultants
International Conservation Services — Conservation Consultants
ITC Group Pty Ltd — Services Engineers
Louise Zarmati — Heritage Education Consultant
McNally Management Pty Ltd — Project Manager
Page Kirkland — Quantity Surveyor
Steve Watson & Partners — BCA Consultants
Taylor Thomson Whiting — Structural Engineers
Team Catalyst — Sustainability Consultants
Terraffic Pty Ltd — Traffic Consultants
WHP Achitects — Access Consultants

Department of Planning

On 28 August, 2007 YHA submitted the Environmental Assessment Plan for the Sydney Harbour YHA and The Big Dig Archeology Education Centre to the Department of Planning.

The proposal was on public exhibition from the middle of September, 2007 for one month.  Following a review of the development application and submissions received, the NSW Department of Planning approved the development on 8th February, 2008.