Digging Cape Schanck’s hidden history PARKS Victoria is digging up the past at Cape Schanck and giving visitors the chance to see an archaeological dig in action. This weekend’s open day will provide an insight into archaeology at Cape Schanck’s historic lightstation. Over the past three summers, a dig by the Cape Schanck Archaeological Field School has explored the hidden history of the lightstation and given student archaeologists the chance to do field work at a place steeped in Aboriginal and post-colonial heritage. “The dig has given archaeology students a rare opportunity to participate in the excavation of a significant site and learn excavation and artefact analysis techniques from some of Victoria’s most experienced archaeologists,” Heritage Victoria’s principal archaeologist Jeremy Smith said. Visitors will be able to meet the archaeologists, watch an excavation in progress and look at some of the artefacts already uncovered. The field school is a joint project between Parks Victoria, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Heritage Victoria, Heritage Insight and the Australian National University. Two years of work has uncovered a cobbled pavement building that may have been a storeroom or stable, along with 11,877 artefact fragments from about 1800 different objects. This year’s work will expand the excavation area and continue the search for more artefacts. Aboriginal people were drawn to Cape Schanck for thousands of years by the abundance of marine life and food sources. The dunes around the lightstation contain cultural heritage sites, shell middens and quarries. The lighthouse was built in 1857-1859, in response to increasing shipwrecks along the coast, and has been in continuous operation ever since. The open day will also look at marine archaeology, including the chance to see items found at shipwreck sites off the Mornington Peninsula – the SS Cheviot (wrecked in 1887), SS Sierra Nevada (1900) and SS Craigburn (1891). For more information on the restoration works, visit parks.vic. gov.au/projects/statewide-projects/heritage-icons-projects Quotes, attributed to Parks Victoria Senior Manager Heritage Services Paul Roser “We’re really excited to give visitors the chance to learn about the fascinating archaeological work at Cape Schanck and get a close-up look at an archaeological dig in progress.”
UNCOVERING history at the Cape Schanck lightstation (1857-59), clockwise from top left, sorting artefact fragments, teacups from the wreck of the SS Sierra Nevada and archaeologists uncover a cobbled area Pictures: Heritage Insights and Parks Victoria
Search for way out of Potter predicament Continued from Page 1 While the presence of the demonstrators at last week’s council meeting did not see any councillors make any surprise moves, Warners Bros acted in less than 48 hours. Crs Lisa Dixon and Steve Holland did not attend the meeting. The best council could offer at its meeting was that it was looking into the legal aspects before seeing how much information it could release about the decision it made in August 2023. “We are currently working on some elements of the contract that potentially could be released, but obviously subject to some very detailed legal review,” Baker said. “This is referring to the council report and the minutes [of the August 2023 meeting] and obviously want to make absolutely sure that none of that refers to any confidential issues.” At 2pm on Thursday, Baker was quoted
on the shire’s Facebook page: “Together with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, Mornington Peninsula Shire is re-evaluating the current location of the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience at The Briars in Mount Martha. We will have more information soon.” The next move was to call a special council meeting for today, Tuesday 13 February, although the shire has yet to publish an agenda. Louise Page, of Save Briars Sanctuary, said the group was “somewhat cautious … [but] extend heartfelt thanks to the decision makers for recognising the error in choice of location and taking steps to identify an alternative”. “This is not only a win for the sanctuary and its precious wildlife, for the community and for the environment, but also for local businesses and The Briars because now we really do have a quadruple bottom line deci-
sion; we are not sacrificing the environment for economic gain.” The mayor Cr Simon Brooks was almost shouted down when he told the public meeting at Mornington Yacht Club on Monday 29 January that councillors had not seen the fine details of the contract with Warner Bros and could not reveal what they did know because of the confidentiality agreement signed by most councillors (Potter protests continue, The News 6/2/24). With Warners and the shire now “re-evaluating” the performance site, the Victorian Greens have urged the state government to step in and stop the Harry Potter event “from going ahead in a wildlife sanctuary”. The Greens say the show will “cause harm to the precious animals that call the sanctuary home and put a number of threatened species at risk”. The six-week event would expose the animals to “damaging artificial lighting, noise and high foot traffic”.
to @TARRA Queenscliff Return ferry travel from Sorrento Two course lunch and a glass of wine $69* per person *Conditions apply
www.searoad.com.au/Sail-to-Lunch Western Port News
14 February 2024
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