A significant archaeological find beneath the Sydney Metro West construction site has been uncovered — remnants of early colonial life, just metres beneath one of the CBD’s busiest areas.
Historic Footprints Beneath the Pavement
During Sydney Metro West works at Hunter Street station, archaeologists uncovered building foundations once owned by 19th-century merchant Prosper de Mestre. His home and office stood where De Mestre Place now runs between George and Hunter streets.
The find came during work on the $25 billion Sydney Metro West line linking the CBD to Parramatta, with remains dating back nearly 200 years to early European settlement.
A Glimpse into Colonial Sydney
The site revealed early 19th-century artefacts including an 1834 coin, slate pencils, glass beads, bottle fragments, and bullet shells from Sydney’s first military barracks.
Researchers found the site was used for military waste in the 1790s. By the 1840s, it had evolved into a built-up area, showing Sydney’s early urban growth.
Community Ties and Ongoing Discovery
Descendants of Prosper de Mestre and historians helped confirm the find with records and knowledge of the site. Sydney Metro teams and archaeologists are now documenting and preserving the materials.
Transport officials have described the discoveries as a significant reminder of how infrastructure work can uncover unexpected layers of the past. The items and information from the dig will help broaden public understanding of Sydney’s urban growth and colonial heritage.
Sharing the Story with the Public
The artefacts will be shown at a community event on 18 May, giving locals a chance to explore the area’s hidden past. Organisers say it’s an opportunity to reflect on how the city has changed over time.
The Sydney Metro West project, while focused on the future of transport, has unintentionally offered a glimpse into the past. In the process of digging forward, it has also dug deep.
Published 15-May-2025