The conservation in situ of archaeological remains dating from Australia’s colonial history is today regularly required by government heritage and planning authorities.  Examples around Australia have proliferated however, the success, effectiveness and benefits of this physical conservation, which is a technically complex and expensive undertaking, is yet to be subjected to critical review and comparison with examples internationally.  Little has been published on the cultural significance assessment methodologies that underpin the policy and legislation which requires this conservation in situ, and no studies have been undertaken in Australia which evaluate the ways in which these conserved archaeological places are perceived, responded to or valued by communities.

The objective of this project is to establish empirical and qualitative data which can be analysed to provide insights into the cultural and heritage management process that is deployed to create ‘heritage places’ based on the conservation of in situ historical archaeological remains. This data will assist with making better decisions about conservation in situ and interpretation of archaeological places and will underpin a more sophisticated analysis of the role of historical archaeology in the cultural heritage of postcolonial nations.

The Sydney Harbour Youth Hostel on the site of the Cumberland and Gloucester Street excavation.
Photograph: Wayne Johnson, 2010.