The story behind the dig at first Government House

Between 1983 and 1991, archaeologists excavated one of the most contested blocks of land in Sydney: the site of Australia’s first Government House. Beneath the city’s streets, they uncovered around 140,000 objects that had remained hidden for almost 140 years.

GML Principal Dr Nadia Iacono was part of this landmark archaeological effort, participating in the 1990–91 excavation season at First Government House. Decades later, her firsthand knowledge has helped bring to light the story of the excavations and the people behind them.

A new exhibition presented by Museums of History NSW (MHNSW), Unearthed, brings these discoveries to life through a curated selection of objects from the site. Highlights range from fragments of Australia’s first printing press to wine bottles repurposed as tools by First Nations peoples. Together, the objects reveal the tangible and intangible histories embedded in the place, shedding light on the people who lived and worked at Government House, as well as those whose lives were shaped by decisions made within its walls.

The exhibition also foregrounds the archaeologists behind the work, tracing the excavation story from the initial 1983–84 season, which uncovered remains of the house, to later digs that revealed the foundations of the governor’s guardhouse.

Drawing on her experience from the site, Nadia assisted the MHNSW curatorial team to identify excavation team members from the three excavation seasons (1983–84, 1987–88 and 1990–91), connecting names, roles and contact details to faces captured in archival photographs. She also features in the documentary on the excavation presented as part of the exhibition.

Unearthed is now open at the Museum of Sydney, on the site of first Government House.