Cato Street Prahran excavation
Gary Vines
Rare finds at $60m Cato Square Project in Prahran
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REMAINS of an 1850s farmhouse and late 20th century housing have been unearthed during an exploratory dig at the Cato St carpark in Prahran.
Archaeologists moved in to excavate the site earlier this year ahead of its overhaul by Stonnington Council for its $60 million Cato Square project.
The project will turn the carpark into a public square with underground parking.
Children’s toys, clay pipes, buttons, animal bones, crockery and structural walls were among the items the team unearthed.
Dr Michelle Negus Cleary of Dr Vincent Clark and Associates said the team was excited by the findings.
“The analysis of these artefacts and subsequent historical research will enable us to tell the story about the diverse cultural heritage of Prahran,” she said.
Stonnington Mayor Jami Klisaris said the dig provided a window into Prahran’s history and the growth of the area over the past 150 years.
“This was a great start to such an exciting project for Stonnington,” she said.
The temporary enclosure located in the corner of the Cato St carpark will be reopened to parking before construction on Cato Square starts in January next year.
Some of the artefacts recovered will be put on public display.
To register your interest to view the items emailcatos...@stonnington.vic.gov.au
Gary Vines
Nearmap aerial from 4 May.
Why do I feel like a sneak posting pictures of excavations - shouldn't the digs by publicly accessible during, and the artefacts and reports after, otherwise who are we doing this work for?
