Britomart

Summary

The Britomart Archaeological Project represents one of the major archaeological projects carried out in New Zealand. The structural remains of the wharves, jetties and railway station have all substantially enriched our understanding of the workings of Auckland harbour during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite the relatively poor contexts the artefacts provide a useful closely dated collection for comparison with other historical sites and as such provide the basis for ongoing research throughout New Zealand. Most dramatically, the project highlights one of the most substantial engineering feats carried out in 19th century Auckland: the demolition of Point Britomart to reclaim land suitable for transport and industrial facilities required for the growing colonial city. The reclamation provided a platform to build the new 1885 Railway Station replacing the small Point Britomart station to the east, which consisted only of a small wooden structure for passengers. The Queen St Railway Station, close to the downtown shopping area, the ferry building and the tram terminus, brought thousands of people in and out of downtown Auckland. The station building itself had good facilities including public bars and appears to have been well received by Aucklanders. Unfortunately, the building of the CPO in the early 20th century was the first phase of a plan to move the railway station to a larger site away from the downtown area. Passenger rail travel in Auckland is yet to recover from this shift, but the new station at Britomart opened in 2003 and its integration with the CPO brings 21st century Aucklanders a chance to travel to the heart of the city as they did in the Victorian era.

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Location and Date

Britomart, Downtown Auckland. New Zealand Excavations between 2001-2003

<googlemap lat="-36.844684" lon="174.769843" zoom="16" width="200" height="200" selector="no" controls="small">-36.844684, 174.769843, Britomart Excavations</googlemap>

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Boat

Parts of a boat and an identified at Britomart.

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Wharves and Jetties

Parts of the Queen St Wharf, Gore St Jetty and other piles found at Britomart.

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Railway Station

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Type

Late 19th Century, Early 20th Century Excavations

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Team

Archaeologists

• Barry Baquié, MA Senior Archaeologist, Leather and wood analysis
• Rod Clough, PhD Director, Metals analysis
• Don Prince, MA Field Archaeologist
• Simon Bickler, PhD Project Manager, Clay pipes, bricks analysis, IT

Specialists

• Mica Plowman, MA Ceramics analysis
• Marianne Turner, PhD Bottles & Stoneware analysis
• Tania Mace, MA Historical Research
• Simon Best, PhD Artefact and historical analysis
• Sarah Macready, MA Editor

Conservation

• Dilys Johns, MA Wooden artefacts
• Tim Mackrell Photographer, wooden artefacts
• Rod Wallace, PhD Wood identification

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Artefacts

Large collection of artefacts from the reclamation fill.

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Publications

Excavation Report: Excavations at Britomart (R11/1379), Auckland (2005). Clough & Associates Monograph Series No. 1 Available from Clough & Associates Website

Other

Bickler, S.H., B. Baquie, R. Clough. 2004. Excavations At Britomart, Auckland. Archaeology in New Zealand 47(2):136-152.

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