Sydney Metro Excavation Uncovers Rare Colonial Artefacts

Sydney Metro construction crews have uncovered hundreds of colonial-era artefacts at the Hunter Street site, offering a rare and valuable glimpse into early 19th-century life in the heart of the city. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Excavation director Ronan McEleney revealed items such as a bone toothbrush and a cologne bottle from the 1820s. The discovery also includes remnants of a store once owned by French merchant Prosper de Mestre.

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De Mestre built his fortune by importing tea, wine, and porcelain into the colony and exporting sealskins abroad. His great-great-great-granddaughter Shirley confirmed his vital role in Sydney’s early trade.

Colonial History Revealed Beneath Sydney Metro Site

Because the dig site lies close to the old George Street barracks, McEleney’s team also unearthed bullet casings and gun flints, likely linked to nearby military activity during that era.

Preservation experts will relocate the remains of de Mestre’s house and display them alongside other artefacts. These efforts aim to highlight Sydney Metro’s connection to the city’s rich colonial history.

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The team emphasized that these relics will become part of a public exhibition, helping future generations understand how the past shaped Sydney’s development.

So, while Sydney Metro transforms the city’s transport, it also strengthens public knowledge of the region’s foundational years. The initiative not only modernizes transit but also uncovers the stories buried beneath it.

Source: www.9news.com.au

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