Sydney Opera House

From 2011–2014, GML assessed the archaeological potential of the site and monitored works during a major upgrade to the forecourt. We also conducted excavations, discovering tangible evidence of the earliest lime production in Sydney.

3D scanning techniques were then used to record archaeological remains and an interpretive film, Revealing Archaeology, was produced.

The 3D recording created efficiencies in the development approval process for the forecourt works, while also developing valuable resources for future researchers. In 2014, the National Trust highly commended the resulting film at its annual Heritage Awards.

GML collaborated with Trigger (now Supersense) in 2015 to explore new heritage interpretation opportunities—identifying potential audiences and new thematic directions for engaging self-guided tours, digital technologies and fresh approaches to visitor journeys.

In 2022, the Utzon Escalator 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, emancipist Francis Greenway. GML was engaged to undertake archaeological investigations when archaeological 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.