Friday, 25 January 2008

An archaeological team from The University of Western Australia will join forces next month with the National Trust to carry out conservation work on one of Albany's major tourist attractions, the Old Farm Strawberry Hill.

Senior lecturer in archaeology and team leader Alistair Paterson said the conservation work was urgently needed to stabilise the farmhouse, built in 1836.

"It's one of the oldest standing buildings in the State and was the site of the first farm in Western Australia so it has significant heritage value," Dr Paterson said.

"The original farmhouse was first built in 1831 but destroyed by fire in 1870 and the building we see today was the two-storey granite extension, which was constructed in 1836."

Dr Paterson said the team, which includes 35 undergraduates and up to eight UWA archaeologists, would carry out a ‘rescue dig' as part of the National Trust's efforts to conserve the building.

"To conserve and stabilise the building will require us to carry out considerable excavation close to the external walls and this area has the potential to yield archaeological artefacts and valuable information on one of our earliest European settlement sites in WA," he said.

"UWA researchers Dr Jane Balme and Dr Joe Dortch will also be working with local Aboriginal groups to record significant sites."

Dr Paterson said members of the public were welcome to visit the excavation site and watch the archaeological "Time Team" in action.  Work is due to start on Monday, February 4, 2008 and continues until February 15.

"We're planning a Family Day on Saturday, February 9 so we'd encourage parents to bring the kids along that day," he said.

Media references

Dr Alistair Paterson (Archaeology)  61 8  6488 2867
0421 994 625
Simone Hewett / Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  61 8  6488 7977
0420 790 097 / 0420 790 098

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