Replicas of discarded remnants
that were discovered during the
Melbourne Metro Tunnel archeological dig
Acrylic on ceramic
2020-2023
In 2019, an archaeological dig was undertaken in the heart of Melbourne's CBD, as part of the Metro Tunnel project. An unexpected byproduct of the dig was that a treasure trove of buried historical ephemera was uncovered.
Heritage Victoria carefully sorted through the mountains of dug up objects, categorising and storing all of the artefacts that they deemed significant. Once the objects to be kept had been decided upon, there remained dozens of boxes of artefacts that were destined to become landfill, which is where I came in.
As a local artist who for many years worked from my studio in the Nicholas Building, just meters from the archaeological site, I was invited to look through the remaining dug up ephemera. Working in my primary medium of hand-sculpted, kiln fired and hand-painted clay, I selected a handful of the discarded items and faithfully replicated them as ceramic sculptures, creating permanent tributes to these forgotten objects.
Working with Ochre, the company researching the items found in the dig, we were able to provide a provenance to the items I've recreated. I have also recreated my notes on post-it notes as accompanying ceramic sculptures.
Like these objects, the clay I work with is also extracted from the earth and so it seemed a fitting material. Ceramics is an inherently slow medium, which directly contrasts with the fleeting nature which these items were engaged with and then disposed of in their time.
My hope is that these sculptures can bring a sense of wonder to those who experience them, and help provide an otherwise lost insight into our city’s history.
This series has been acquired in its entirety by the City of Melbourne Art and Herritage Collection and is now on permanent display in the Melbourne Town Hall.
Foster's can and Fanta bottle. Twentieth century items, likely post 1960. Found in cellar stairwell at site 1906, which at the time was functioning as a butcher.
Sheep Bones
Rabbit Bones
Gnawed Small Bird Femur Bone
Teeth (These are animal teeth left over from a kitchen, although many human teeth were also found during this excavation, as a dentist in the area would often dispose of them down the drain.)
Mostly lamb bones. Nineteenth Century. Found at Site 1907, which was a grocer. The larger bone may be from "Barrelled beef", which people were keen on back then.
Five milkshake canisters, made of copper alloy. Found at Site 1907, which was functioning as a cafe and cinema from 1925.
Kitchenware utensil. Stainless steel, serated edge knife. Twentieth Century. Found at site 1907, from a period when it would've been a cafe.
Ceramic bottle. Twentieth century. Probably a liqueur of some sort.
Plastic straws. Found at Site 1904, which at the time was a McDonalds. (These plastic straws will no doubt outlast us all.)
Frosted white glass teacup and amber glass beer bottle, both found at site 1906.
Filmed by Red and Dragon production company to document the Making The Metro Tunnel exhibition.
