11 November saw our Year 9 class head to Heritage Victoria to meet Jeremy Smith (Principal Archaeologist), Bronwyn Woff (Heritage Curator) and Katerina Karanikas (Heritage Curator). 

A shop which had burned down had perfectly preserved a layer of artifacts including carbonised biscuits with the brand still on. A decorated chamber pot testified to the level of odour which was tolerated in colonial times as Melbourne was being established and pipes had not yet been laid for sewage.

Evidence from a school included a hand carved sword, sling shot pouches and evidence of bullying, according to Woff, in the form of single shoes which were recovered from a ‘night soil’ pit. Karanikas explained fine pieces from a wealthy person including souvenirs from the opening of the tomb of King Tutankamun.

Smith brought some of his own personal collection from his early student days at the biblical site of Nineveh (c.f. The reading of Jonah on Yom Kippur). Two pieces of note were a pistol recovered from a mine shaft near the site and from the time of the Eureka Stockade and an ossuary box from Melbourne Gaol which was akin to that which held Ned Kelly’s bones. Smith had also participated in the DNA analysis of the bones to match them to living relatives of Kelly and allow his bones to be buried alongside those of his mother. A tour of the storeroom revealed recovered shipwreck items including the ornate toilet in the photo.

Both the Heritage Curators and the Principal Archaeologist were impressed by the level of inquiry of student questions and the way in which they investigated artefacts.

Damien Green
Senior School Teacher