Archaeology comes to Marrickville

BY LUCAS BAIRD
A Marrickville Council committee has passed a measure to identify several new sites in the council area as archaeologically important.

The Marrickville Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Services committee passed an action to label over thirty new sites as archaeologically significant at Tuesday’s meeting.

This comes after council noted a staff submission late last year that requested that these sites be marked because several owners were unaware if their land was recognised as one of these sites or not.

Independent Councillor, David Macri was happy the amendment went through.

“I think archaeology sites are important. Even if you can’t do anything with them, it should definitely be looked at and investigated,” Cllr Macri told City Hub.

Cllr Macri explained that with the marking of these sites, the council now had to look at the pros and cons to the community of potential developments on a site.

“We went through this when we did the old hospital site. We had to check it out and there were some archaeological old foundations,” he said “That had to be investigated and mapped out and we worked out that the benefit was much more significant than getting a new library”

Marrickville Heritage Society Vice-President Scott MacArthur, said that the group welcomed Council’s decision.

“The society is really pleased that council has investigated these sites that have potential for important archaeological sites,” Mr MacArthur said.

Mr MacArthur noted that history is an important aspect of the area’s identity and that this recognition would help protect this.

“What makes Marrickville such an interesting place is that it has all these layers of history and past development.”

“Acknowledging that and protecting it is really important.”

One of the sites the committee has marked for its importance is the St Peters Church of England cemetery.

Mr MacArthur explained that this had a significant historical value

“There is the tombs themselves, but there are often things buried with people and then there are the tombstones themselves. Which often have fantastic stories to tell about the lives of people who used to live in the area.”

According to Mr MacArthur, many of the burial sites there had previously been disturbed following an extension of the Princess Highway.

He said that this new classification would help protect the site from future developments.