In 2023, ArchLink was commisioned by Curlewis Bellarine Pty Ltd to undertake an archaeological salvage program as part of management conditions required by CHMP 16286 (Barker, 2022).

The aims of an archaeological salvage program is to record in detail archaeological deposits, artefacts and any in situ features that might be present. To collect, analyse and catalogue cultural materials before they are repatriated and to prepare a comprehensive report on the salvage programs that will be submitted to the RAP (WTOAC) and First Peoples – State Relations (FP-SR).

The goal of the salvage report is to present the contextual information and analysis of the material obtained through this recovery to contribute to our knowledge about Aboriginal cultural heritage and our understanding of the past.

The salvage began in April 2023 and will continue throughout 2024.

The largest archaeological dig in Victoria history commenced in 2018 at two locations in the heart of the CBD, known as the Town Hall Station (South) and the State Library Station (North). The Metro Tunnel Project excavations uncovered archaeological remains and thousands of artefacts from the city’s rich history. Some artefacts date back more than 180 years to the early days of European settlement in Melbourne.

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ArchLink was engaged in 2020 along with Matrix Archaeological Services to undertake the cataloguing, analysis and reporting of the artefact assemblage recovered from Metro Tunnel Project CBD North (known as State Library Station).

For this large-scale artefact analysis project ArchLink engaged additional artefact specialists; Natalie Paynter, 
Zvonka Stanin, Felicity Buckingham and Anthony Bagshaw. 

ArchLink recently completed CHMP investigations for Parks Victoria along Towt Road in the Bunyip State Park, east of Gembrook. The project forms part of the Melbourne Fire and Emergency Program (MFEP) which aims to reduce the risk of fires and other emergencies (such as storm events) to communities and assets in Melbourne’s urban interface areas by building, enhancing and maintaining fuel breaks, strategic emergency access roads and delivering burn preparation works. Complex testing took place in 2021 and 2022 and resulted in the identification of new Aboriginal heritage sites. Management conditions are in place to protect the sites in conjunction with the traditional owners of the Bunyip State Park, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water, and Planning was proposing to establish a formal campsite at the site and ArchLink was engaged to undertake Complex CHMP investigations within the vicinity of the former Boys Camp in Powelltown. Standard and complex testing was undertaken in 2022 and management conditions are in place to protect the sites in conjunction with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation .

ArchLink were recently engaged by DELWP to provide a cultural heritage assessment on several previously recorded Aboriginal cultural heritage sites that may be affected by general maintenance works on roads within the Yarra district as part of a longer-term formal process. These works involve the management of unsealed roads for environmental health and safety reason. This aims to facilitate ongoing consultation between RAP and TO groups, and DELWP for working around pre-existing Aboriginal cultural heritage places. The project involved revisiting and assessing over 44 Aboriginal places, updating the VAHR and applying for Cultural Heritage Permits.

Indigo Shire Council proposes to develop a recreational trail for use by mountain bikes and pedestrians along a 1.5 km section of Yackandandah Creek (Figure 1). This project was initiated by the community as part of the Pick My Project funding program and will be implemented as part of the broader Indigo Epic Mountain Bike Trail project linking Beechworth to Yackandandah. ArchLink prepared an archaeology assessment to inform Indigo Shire Council of the archaeological values of the subject area. The assessment found that the proposed trail alignment crosses through several registered and listed heritage places (listed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory and the Victorian Heritage Register. These places are protected under the Heritage Act, 2017.

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Archaeological Monitoring on the track took place in June 2022.

ArchLink recently completed CHMP investigations for the City of Whittlesea for their proposed development of walking trails and a playspace at Granite Hills in the Quarry Hills Regional Park. Complex testing was undertaken over three days in July 2021. No Aboriginal Heritage was identified and management conditions are in place.

ArchLink was engaged by private developers, @North Pty Ltd, to undertake Complex CHMP investigations at 38 Harrison Street in Brunswick East. The site sits along the adjacent to the Merri Creek Trail and contains an historical house and dairy outbuildings. The fieldwork involved survey and complex testing in April 2021. No Aboriginal Heritage was identified and management conditions are in place.

ArchLink has been engaged by De Novo Group to prepared a Archaeology Management Plan (AMP) and conduct premliminary excavations at 306-314 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.  The property is part of the Beehive Building complex which previously housed the original Beehive Store and the Bendigo Mining Exchange. De Nova Group are planning a new development at the site which will involve demolishing the extant buildings currently on the land and building a new hotel of six levels with a restaurant at ground level. In October 2020 and March 2021 ArchLink conducted archaeological excavations to determine the nature and extent of historical occupation at the site.

ArchLink were recently engaged by Parks Victoria to assist with a cultural heritage impact assessment as part of the Melbourne Fire and Emergency program. As part of the MFEP 20/21 work plan initial values impact assessments performed with Parks Victoria Aboriginal Cultural heritage advisors identified several locations where work is likely to cause harm. ArchLink provided ground identification and verification of the sites, updating the VAHR (through record edit on ACHRIS) and approved Cultural Heritage Permits. 

ArchLink was engaged by the City of Whittlesea to undertake CHMP investigations for the proposed development of a shared path along Edgars Creek in Huskisson Reserve, between Kingsway Drive and Deveny Road, Lalor. No Aboriginal Heritage was identified and management conditions are in place.

ArchLink was engaged by Melbourne Water to undertake Complex CHMP investigations of the proposed shared trail and revegetation works along the Little Yarra River in Yarra Junction, 55 km east of Melbourne. The fieldwork involved survey and complex testing from 15th to 19th June, 2020. Two coarse silcrete debitage flakes were recovered from the western end of the activity area and registered with the VAHR as a low-density artefact distribution. Extent testing around this site revealed no further artefacts and it is likekly these artefacts are the result of redistribution via floodwaters. Specific management conditions are now in place to mitigate impacts to the place. At the conclusion of the works the artefacts will be repatriated to the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) for reburied in accordance with their Repatriation Policy. 

ArchLink were commissioned by Little Projects to undertake archaeological investigations at 9-27 Downie Street, Melbourne. The development involved demolition of the existing warehouse building on the property and the construction of a new multi- storey hotel.

The site sits upon Melbourne's first iron foundry, “Langlands Foundry” established from 1842 and later housed the West End Brewery Stables. Excavations ran from November 2018 through to February, 2019. The historic excavations revealed extant structures including original bluestone wall footings, underground flu systems and drains made with handmade bricks, timber and iron sheets, furnace pits and stable walls. Over 15,000 artefacts were uncovered including glass and ceramic bottles and myriad metal objects relating to foundry work such as crucibles, files and nails dating from the 1850s onwards.