Sydney Opera House
Utzon Escalators Project
Archaeological Excavation
Heritage Advice
Heritage Impact Statement
Archaeological Research Designs
Comparative Significance Assessment
Archaeological Reporting and Analysis
Sydney Opera House Trust
Bennelong Point / Tubowgule
Gadigal Country
The Sydney Opera House (SOH) Utzon Escalators Project provided an opportunity to record and retain in situ rare, state significant remains of Fort Macquarie Tower, one of Australia’s earliest Gothic buildings, designed by Sydney’s first government architect Francis Greenway.
Sydney Opera House Trust engaged GML to undertake archaeological investigations when remains assessed to be of local, state, and indicative national significance were encountered during initial works to install the Utzon Escalators at the World Heritage listed site.
The archaeological investigations revealed the survival of features associated with previous phases of occupation and use of the site on Bennelong Point / Tubowgule, including the remains of Fort Macquarie (1817–1843), later military use of the site (1843–1901) and the Fort Macquarie Tram Depot (1901–1958). The excavations also demonstrated that surviving remains from these phases extend beyond the area of investigation.
A key outcome of the archaeological research program conducted by GML and reassessment of the significance of the archaeology exposed during the project was the opportunity to better understand the phasing of Fort Macquarie.
This enabled a solution to the project’s construction needs that enabled the escalators to be installed while also allowing for protection and in situ retention of the state and potential nationally significant Fort Macquarie remains. These remains are now conserved and protected in situ beneath geotextile material and clean river sand below the escalators.
During the investigations GML and Sydney Opera House Trust conducted site tours and presentations to enable viewing of the exposed archaeological remains before reburial.
In 2023 the Trust also engaged GML and Esem Projects to develop an approach to the interpretation of archaeological remains relating to the Fort Macquarie barbette wall and tower.
GML Principal Dr Nadia Iacono presenting at the Sydney Opera House excavation site.
View of the 2023 investigations showing the southeastern circular tower remains (pink arrow), the upper course of the c1860s Barbette wall (orange line), and the east–west Tram Depot service line (black line).
