Kings Square Archaeological Dig
Consultation has concluded
Fremantle’s originalSt John’s Church circa 1863
Do you want to be involved in unearthing Kings Square's history?
An archaeological dig in January 2018 will provide opportunities for everyone to share in the thrill of discovering what lies beneath Kings Square.
The dig, planned before construction of the Kings Square renewal commences, will look for evidence of the 1840s built predecessor to the current St John’s Church which stood in the centre of the square, until it was demolished in 1882. The archaeologists will also be looking for the foundations of the early High Street shops from the 1860s-1920s. Along with the foundations of these buildings, they expect to find historical material from the 1860s.
As part of the upgrade of the public spaces in Kings Square, the City is exploring ways to showcase historical artefacts revealed during the dig, allowing these stories to be part of people's experiences of square.
Viewing windows like this one in Zadar, Croatia are being considered to showcase the historical artefacts in Kings Square.
View the excavations, sign up for a workshop, and join a free tour
The dig will take place across four zones in Kings Square from 15 - 21 January 2018. You're welcome to view the excavations and watch the team in action. For public safety and to protect the contents of the dig sites, areas of Kings Square will be fenced off throughout the excavation.
For those who would like to be more hands-on, the community engagement programme run by Archae-aus and the Museum of Moving Objects includes workshops and events suitable for all ages and free on-site talks, which you can book here.
Free Talk and Tour - Daily from 15 - 21 January 2018
Repurposing artefacts to mobiles (8-16 year olds) - 15 January, 18 January, 20 January 2018
Mini Excavation Workshops (8-16 year olds) - 15 January, 16 January, 17January, 18 January, 19 January, 21 January 2018
Learn to dig it before you can spell it! (under 8...) - 16 January, 17January, 19 January 2018
Repurposing artefacts to jewellery (Adults - 16+) - 16 January, 20 January, 21 January 2018
Finds Processing (Adults - 16+) - 17 January, 20 January, 21 January 2018
Where will the dig take place in Kings Square?
Click to open a map of the excavation zones.
There are four excavation zones in the Kings Square dig, including sites in front of the former Myer building, near the playground, in Newman Court and the old church area on the High Street side of the City of Fremantle administration building.
As well as the foundations of the former buildings, the archaeologists will be looking for historical material such as glass bottles, ceramic bottles, fragments of ceramic plates and bowls of various designs, buttons, fragments of clay pipes and evidence of the material culture that will shed light into what life was like in Fremantle during this period.
What do you expect to find?
A previous dig in June 1986 uncovered the foundations of the first church in Kings Square.
Contact
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Phone 1300 MY FREO (1300 693 736) Email communityengagement@fremantle.wa.gov.au -
Phone 1300 MY FREO (1300 693 736) Email communityengagement@fremantle.wa.gov.au