The Big Dig, The Rocks, Sydney, Schooldays magazine

Disclaimer: All information contained in the Schooldays magazine website is material supplied by the writers and advertisers. Schooldays magazine bears no responsibility for any claims made by the writers or advertisers. All information is for educational purposes only, it is up to the reader to make a decision of integrity.

The Big Dig - Fun & Learning at The Rocks in Sydney

The Rocks in Sydney offers a rich history of the beginnings of European settlement in Australia and now has a new purpose-built education centre, The Archaeology Education Centre. The Centre is part of the new Sydney Harbour YHA.

The Big Dig Archaelogy Education Centre at The Rocks in Sydney offers curriculum-specific education programs, including a simulated archaeological dig.

The earliest substantial house remnants date back to C1795.

The following century saw intensive development with numerous houses, pubs and shops being built, and by the late 1800s up to 200 people lived on the site.

In 1901, the NSW Government resumed ownership of the land, in a time of growing public hysteria about the ‘slum’ conditions of housing in The Rocks, particularly following the outbreak of bubonic plague.

Between 1902 and 1915 all the buildings on the site were demolished, and the land was covered over and used for industrial purposes and parking until 1994, when an extensive archaeological excavation of the 2675m² site took place.

The remains of up to 40 dwellings and over one million artefacts have been found on site and this site has become an important resource for the study of Sydney’s colourful past.

This unique part of Sydney is now more accessible for teachers and students with the new YHA hostel which provides quality budget accommodation for groups visiting The Rocks. Sydney Harbour YHA is built above an exciting archaeological dig site, where building remnants and artefacts dating back to the earliest days of the European settlement of Australia have been found.

Education and interpretation have been an integral part of the hostel and education centre’s design. The hostel is raised off the ground on pillars, allowing public access along the re-established lane-ways to the on-site archaeology. Interpretation panels, artefact display cases, historic streetscape images, interpretative brochures and a lighting scheme highlighting key archaeological remains have been incorporated.

Included in the Education Centre are two purpose-built classrooms. Students have a clear view across the site from the classroom-viewing platform which overlooks the foundations of houses and backyards of convicts and free-settlers. Lessons can also include a walk into the archaeological ruins of some of the buildings.

So far this year, over 2,000 students have already enjoyed the exciting new educational programs in the Education Centre. The programs are curriculum specific and provide students with a hands-on experience on an authentic archaeological dig site.

The Little Diggers and Dirt Detectives programs, for Years 1 to 4, include a simulated dig activity where students use the methods of archaeologists to uncover artefacts. These artefacts are then taken backto the classroom for detailed analysis.

The Pieces of the Past and Cesspits and Old Rubbish programs, for Years 5 to 10, include a walk through the archaeological dig site, where key features are identified, and a hands-on analysis of genuine artefacts that were discovered during The Big Dig. They provide an ideal site-specific case study, expertly presented by Sydney Learning Adventures.

Groundwork: Archaeology at The Big Dig is targeted at Ancient History students, using a significant archaeological dig site to study the methods used by archaeologists and historians when interpreting the past. This program also explores the ethical issues involved in the excavation, conservation and interpretation of an archaeological site.

In addition to the Education Centre, Sydney Harbour YHA has both a dedicated Groups accommodation area and a groups lounge with TV and private dining tables.

In The Rocks, there are a good selection of other places of interest in the immediate area such as: The Rocks Discovery Museum, Susannah Place and Sydney Observatory. Plus there are theatres, concerts, art galleries and even ghost tours of The Rocks.

For further information visit: The Big Dig’s website: www.thebigdig.com.au or email sydharbourgroups@yha.com.au Education groups should contact Sydney Learning Adventures directly on 02 9240 8552.

Spectacular views from the rooftops of YHA Sydney Harbour above "The Big Dig"

Pieces of the Past education program at The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre

Enjoying The Little Diggers education program at The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre