Cultural Heritageadvisor:Matthew Barker Author:Matthew Barker

ProposedRezoningat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPonds:CulturalHeritageAssessment

Sponsor:Date:22ndofApril 2014

Cultural HeritageAdvisor:Matthew Barker Author:Matthew Barker

Disclaimer

TheinformationcontainedinthisCHAreferencesinformationcontainedingovernmentheritage databasesandsimilarsourcesandis,tothebestknowledgeofBenchmarkHeritageManagementPty Ltd,trueandcorrectatthetimeofreportproduction.WhilethisCHAcontainsasummaryof informationitdoesnotprovide,nordoesitintendtoprovide,anin-depthsummaryandassessmentof allavailable researchmaterials inrelationtotheActivityArea. Benchmark Heritage ManagementPtyLtd doesnot acceptliabilityforerrorsor omissions referenced inprimaryor secondarysources.

AnyopinionsexpressedinthisCHAarethoseofBenchmarkHeritageManagementPtyLtdanddonot representthoseofanythirdparties.However,BenchmarkHeritageManagementPtyLtdwillnotbe heldresponsibleforopinions or actionswhichmay beexpressed bydissentingpersonsororganisations.

CopyrightNotice

Thisreportiscopyright.AnyintellectualpropertythereinremainsthepropertyofBenchmarkHeritage ManagementP/LandSMECUrbanP/L.UndertheCopyrightAct,nopartofthisreportmaybe reproducedwithout priorwrittenpermissionfromSMEC UrbanP/L.

Abbreviations

ACHP:AboriginalCulturalHeritagePlace BHM:BenchmarkHeritageManagementCHMP:CulturalHeritageManagementPlanWAC:WathaurongAboriginalCorporation

ExecutiveSummary

Activity,Location

TheStudyAreaislocatedat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPonds,Victoriaand coversanapproximateareaof25ha(250000m²)knownastheMunicipalityoftheCityofGreater GeelongatWaurnPonds,ParishofBarrabool,Lot1onTP77822andLot3onPS644553.TheStudyArea is locatedin Zone54.

Resultsof Assessment:Desktop

InsummarisingourcurrentknowledgeofthegeographicregioninwhichtheStudyAreaislocated,the followingpredictivestatements shouldbe takenintoaccount:

There are noregistered Aboriginal CulturalHeritagePlaceslocated intheStudy Area;
There hasbeennoprevious archaeological assessment ofthe Study Area;
PreviousarchaeologicalassessmentsintheregionhaveindicatedthatAboriginalarchaeological siteswithintheregionarelikelytocomprisestoneartefactsinsurfaceexposuresandshallow subsurface depositsonelevatedlandforms (e.g. hill tops, hill slopes)overlookingwatercourses;
Thereispotentialforhigherdensitystoneartefactstooccurinintactsoildepositsclosertothe ArmstrongCreekWest Branch;
Therewouldhavebeenarangeofplant,animalandmineralresourcesavailableforIndigenous people livingin,or intheregionof,the Study Area;
Artefactscattersarethe mostlikelypredominantsitetype;
TheStudyAreawasmostlikelysubjecttobothburningepisodespriortoEuropeansettlement andafterduringlandclearance.Thelatterinparticularwouldhavehadasignificanteffecton thesoils.Thusanysurfacesitesexistingatthetimearelikelytohavebeenhighlydisturbedand distributed;
Artefactsmadeonavarietyofmaterialincludingsilcrete,quartzandquartzite,andlesser quantitiesof coastalflint;and
MicrolithsindicativeoftheAustralianSmallToolTradition,andgenerallyassociatedwiththe past 5000yearsof Aboriginal occupation,may be present.

Other formsof Aboriginal culturalheritage (e.g. scarredtrees, burials ormounds)areunlikelyto occur in theStudyAreagiventheclearanceofallnativevegetationandintensiveagriculturalactivityduringthe nineteenthcentury.

Results of Assessment:Archaeological Survey

AsystematicsurfacesurveyoftheStudyAreawasundertakenonthe6thofMarch2014.The archaeologicalsurveywasundertaken byculturalheritage advisorMatthewBarker ofBHMP/L.

NoIndigenousarchaeologicalsiteswereidentifiedwithintheStudyAreaduringthefieldinvestigation (this includesartefact scatters, scarred trees,caves,caveentrances androckshelters).

TheresultsofthearchaeologicalsurveyindicatethattheStudyAreacompriseslandthatispotentially sensitivetoAboriginalarchaeologicalsitesandisalandformthatpreviousstudieswithinthevicinityof thestudyareahaveshowntocontainAboriginalculturalmaterial.Theareawithin100mofthewest branchofArmstrongCreek(Map4)isconsideredtobeofmoderatetohigharchaeologicalsensitivity with theremainderof lowpotentialsensitivity.

Recommendations

Basedontheresultsofthearchaeologicalassessment,thefollowingmanagementrecommendations aremade for landcomprisingthe Study Area.

Recommendation1

Nofurtherarchaeologicalassessmentisrequiredforrezoningofthestudyarea.ACulturalHeritage ManagementPlanmustbeundertaken for future developmentofthe study area.

UndertheAboriginalHeritageAct2006andinaccordancewiththeAboriginalHeritageRegulations 2007amandatoryCulturalHeritageManagementPlan(CHMP)isrequiredfortheproposedactivity, because:

ThestudyareacontainsanareaofCulturalHeritageSensitivityidentifiedaslandwithin200 metresof awaterway (Aboriginal HeritageRegulations2007,Part 2,Div3,Reg.23(1)).

Theproposedactivityisahighimpactactivity(AboriginalHeritageRegulations2007,Part2,Div 5, Reg.46.Residential andcommercialsubdivisionsare highimpact activities.

Thepurpose of theCHMPistoidentifyandassessthe nature,extent andsignificanceof Aboriginalsites, objectsandculturalheritagevalueswithinthesubjectlandandtoprovidemitigation,protectionand contingency procedures tomanagethose valuesbefore,duringandafterdevelopmentofthe land.

InaccordancewithSection61oftheAboriginalHeritageAct(2006),thefollowingmandatorymatters are considered by thisCHMP:

Whetherthe activitywill be conductedin away thatavoidsharm toAboriginal culturalheritage;
Ifitdoesnotappeartobepossibletoconducttheactivityinawaythatavoidsharmto Aboriginalculturalheritage,whethertheactivitywillbeconductedinawaythatminimises harm toAboriginal culturalheritage; and
AnyspecificmeasuresrequiredforthemanagementofAboriginalculturalheritagelikelytobe affectedbythe activity, both duringandafter the activity.

Recommendation2

A suggestedmethodology for theCHMPwill involve the followingprocess:

Submit an NoticeofIntenttoAboriginal Affairs Victoria andtheWAC;
Present the resultsof thedesktopassessmenttotheWAC;
Undertakea comprehensive archaeologicalsurveyofstudy area withWAC representatives;
Discussthe resultsof the surveywiththeWAC;

Deviseanappropriatestrategyforacomplexassessment(subsurfacetesting)inconsultation with theWAC;
Discussthe resultsof the complex assessment with the WAC;
Manage any sites in consultationwiththe WAC; and
Manage future heritagevaluesinconsultationwith the WAC(suchas interpretive signage).

EuropeanHeritage

Therearenohistoricsiteswithinthestudyarea.The studyareaisconsideredtohaveverylowpotential sensitivityfor historicarchaeologicalsites. Nofurtherinvestigationisrequired.

Tableof Contents

Abbreviations ...... iii

Part1- Assessment...... 1

1.0Introduction...... 1

Locationofthe Study Area...... 1

DetailsofCultural HeritageAdvisor...... 1

Registered AboriginalParty(RAP) withResponsibilityfor theStudy Area...... 1

2.0ActivityDescription...... 4

3.0Extentofthe Study AreaCovered by theManagement Plan...... 5

4.1Aboriginal CulturalHeritage Assessment...... 6

4.2DesktopAssessment...... 6

Searchofthe VictorianAboriginal Heritage Register...... 6

The Geographic Region...... 6

Registered AboriginalPlaces in the GeographicRegion...... 7

PreviousWorks inthe Geographic RegionRelevanttothe Study Area...... 7

HistoricalandEthno-historical Accountsof theGeographic Region ...... 11

The Landforms and Geomorphologyofthe Study Area ...... 13

The EnvironmentalDeterminants ofthe Study Area ...... 14

LandUseHistory Relevanttothe StudyArea ...... 15

ConclusionsfromtheDesktopAssessment ...... 16

4.3ArchaeologicalSurvey ...... 18

ArchaeologicalsurveyMethodology ...... 18

Resultsof GroundSurvey ...... 18

GroundSurface Visibility andEffective Survey Coverage ...... 24

ConclusionsoftheGroundSurvey ...... 25

Part2–CulturalHeritageManagementRecommendations ...... 26

5.1Specific CulturalHeritage Management Requirements ...... 26

5.2Aboriginal Heritage ...... 26

5.3European Heritage ...... 28

References ...... 29

Appendices ...... 32

Appendix 1:Glossary ...... 33

Maps

Map1: StudyArea Location-RegionalContext...... 2

Map2: StudyArea Location-LocalContext...... 3

Map3: Aerial Viewof Study Area...... 5

Map4: SurveyArea...... 19

Plates

Plate 1: Viewof thestudy area fromwesternboundary (M. Barker6/3/14), facingeast...... 20

Plate 2: Viewof theStudyArea showinggently slopinglandfromnortheast corner (M. Barker 6/3/14),facingwest. 21

Plate 3: Viewof thedaminthe centreeastofthe Study Area(M.Barker 6/3/14),facingsouthwest...21

Plate 4: Viewof drainage line incentre east(M. Barker 6/3/14), facingwest...... 22

Plate 5: Viewof thedammed sectionofArmstrongCreekWest Branchinthecentreeastof theStudyArea (M. Barker6/3/14), facingwest 22

Plate 6: Viewof drybed andbanks ofArmstrongCreek WestBranchinthecentre ofthe Study Area (M.Barker6/3/14), facingwest 23

Plate 7: Viewof rabbit burrowsin the alluvialbanksofArmstrongCreekWest Branch inthecentreofthe Study Area (M. Barker6/3/14), facingwest 23

Plate 8: Viewof creekbedofArmstrongCreekWest Branch inthecentreof theStudy Area(M. Barker6/3/14), facingwest 24

Part1-Assessment

1.0Introduction

ThisCulturalHeritageAssessment(CHA)hasbeenpreparedforthepropertylocatedat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPonds,hereinreferredtoastheStudyArea (seeMaps1and2).AGlossaryofTermsisincluded asAppendix1.

LocationoftheStudyArea

TheStudyAreaislocatedat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPonds,Victoria andcoversanapproximateareaof25ha(250000m²)knownastheMunicipalityoftheCityof GreaterGeelongatWaurnPonds,ParishofBarrabool,Lot1onTP77822andLot3onPS644553. TheStudyAreaislocatedinZone54.

TheStudyArea issituatedwithintheGeelongsuburbofWaurnPonds, whichliesapproximately70kmsouthwestoftheMelbourneCBD(seeMap1and2).

DetailsofCulturalHeritageAdvisor

TheCulturalHeritageAdvisorwhohasundertakenthisCHAisMatthewBarker.Matthewholds aBAHons[Archaeology]fromLaTrobeUniversityandhashadnineyears’experienceworking in thefield ofAboriginalarchaeology.

RegisteredAboriginalParty(RAP)withResponsibility fortheStudyArea

TheWathaurungAboriginalCorporation(WAC)istheRegisteredAboriginalParty(RAP)forthestudyarea.

Map1:StudyAreaLocation-RegionalContext

Map2:StudyAreaLocation-LocalContext

2.0ActivityDescription

Theproposedactivityat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPondsisfora rezoningforaproposedresidentialsubdivision.

Thisactivityisthebeginningofadevelopmentprocessthatwillinvolvesomedegreeofsoil disturbancetobothsurfaceandburiedlandsurfaces,anditisnotpossiblefordevelopmentto takeplacewithintheStudyAreainawaythatwillavoidharmtoIndigenousculturalheritageshouldanysuchmaterialbefound toexist ontheproperty.

3.0Extentofthe StudyAreaCovered bytheManagement Plan

TheStudyAreaislocatedat35HamsRoadand151-229AngleseaRoad,WaurnPonds,Victoria andcoversanapproximateareaof25ha(250000m²)knownastheMunicipalityoftheCityof GreaterGeelongatWaurnPonds,ParishofBarrabool,Lot1onTP77822andLot3onPS644553. TheStudyAreaislocatedinZone54.

Map3:AerialViewofStudyArea

TheStudyAreacomprisesanirregularblockoflandfrontingHamsRoadinWaurnPonds(seeMap3).Thelandcontainsasinglelandformelementidentifiedas“Pxj”(GeoVicMapCode)on theDPIgeologicalinteractivemaps.

TheentireStudyArea hasbeenclearedofIndigenousvegetation(Map3).

4.0Aboriginal Cultural HeritageAssessment

4.1DesktopAssessment

Thissectioncontains theresultsofthe desktopassessment. The aim ofthe desktopassessmentwastoproduceanarchaeologicalsitepredictionmodel,whichwouldassistinthedesignofthefieldwork,theinterpretationofthefieldworkresults,theassessmentofculturalsignificanceandthedesignofthemanagementrecommendations.Thedesktopassessmentinvolved:

Identificationanddetermination of thegeographicregionthattheStudyAreaissituatedwithinanditsrelationship toAboriginalCulturalHeritage;
An assessment of the environmental determinants within the geographic region including landforms and geology, water sources, climate, flora and fauna and

implicationsforAboriginalsitedistribution;

EthnohistoricalandhistoricalAboriginaloccupationwithinthegeographicalregion;
ReviewoflandusehistorywithintheStudyArea;
ReviewofreportsandpublishedworksconcerningAboriginal culturalhistoryrelevant to thegeographicregion;
SearchoftheVictorianAboriginalHeritageRegister;
OtherinformationtheCulturalHeritageAdvisorconsidersnecessaryorconvenientin determiningthenatureofAboriginaloccupationwithinthegeographicregionandthe

StudyArea

Thisinformationwasusedtoproduceanarchaeologicalsitepredictionmodel.ThesitepredictionmodelassistsindeterminingthetypeofarchaeologicalsiteswhichmaypotentiallyoccurwithintheStudyArea,thepossiblecontentsofthesesites,thepossiblepastuseofthelandscapebyAboriginalpeopleandthelikelyextentofgrounddisturbancetoarchaeological sites.Theinformationprovidedbythesitepredictionmodelisusedconstructivelyindesigningthesurveystrategy,by,forexample,allowingthefieldteamtotargetareaswhichhaveahigh probabilityofcontainingarchaeologicalsites.Noobstacleswereencounteredduringthepreparationofthisdesktopassessment.

SearchoftheVictorianAboriginalHeritageRegister

TheVictorianAboriginalHeritageRegister(VAHR)on-linedatabasemaintainedbyAboriginal AffairsVictoriawassearchedtoidentifyanypreviouslyregisteredIndigenousarchaeological siteswithintheStudyArea andsurroundinggeographicregion,as well astheresultsofprevious archaeologicalassessments.TheRegisterwasaccessed onthe27thofFebruary2014.

TheGeographicRegion

ThegeographicregioninwhichtheStudyAreaislocatedisdefinedbythedistinctunderlyinggeologyofWaurnPonds.

RegisteredAboriginalPlaces intheGeographicRegion

TheStudyAreahasnotbeensubjecttopreviousarchaeologicalassessmentandnoAboriginal CulturalHeritage Placesarelocatedontheproperty,howevermanyIndigenoussiteshavebeen recordedinthesurroundinggeographicregion.Thereare23registeredAboriginalCultural HeritagePlaceswithinthegeographicregionallcomprisingartefactscatters.

Therearenohistorical (post contact)referencesto Aboriginaloccupationwithinthegeographic region.TheclosestknownhistoricalplacetotheStudyAreaistheMtDuneedReserve(AboriginalHistoricPlace7.1-6)adjacenttoGhazeeporeRoadalongArmstrongCreek(only 150msouthofthestudyarea),wherelocalAboriginalpeoplewereknowntohavecamped duringthe1860s,indicatingthat Aboriginal populationsinhabited the regionprior to and duringEuropeancontact.

PreviousWorksintheGeographicRegionRelevanttotheStudyArea

RegionalInvestigations

BellarinePeninsula:ArchaeologicalSiteAssessmentandManagementActivity(Rhoads1986)

ThisarchaeologicalassessmentoftheBellarinePeninsulawasundertakenfortheVictorian ArchaeologicalSurveyinordertoprovideinformationtoassistinthemanagementand conservationofAboriginalplacesontheBellarinePeninsula.ThestudyareaconsistedoftheShireofBellarine,CityofSouthBarwonandtheBoroughofQueenscliff(approximately50,000ha),includingthe current activityarea.The assessment was undertaken in two stages.Stockton undertookStage1ofthisproject,involvingacoastalfieldsurvey,overasixmonthperiod.TheaimwastounderstandthedistributionofplacesonthePeninsula.AlthoughStocktonidentified 77Aboriginal placesduring thesurvey,areportwasnot completed(Rhoads1986:7-56).

RhoadsundertookStage2ofthisproject.TheaimsofthisstageweretoidentifysignificantAboriginalplacesandareasofarchaeologicalpotential,andassessarchaeologicalplacesintheDrysdale/Clifton Springsarea.Pedestrianandvehicle surveys, carriedoutover 19 days, resulted intheidentificationof15Aboriginalplaces,mostlyontheBellarinePeninsulatotheeastoftheactivityarea.Rhoadstargetedreserves,dirttracks,surfaceexposuresandroadcutexposures coveringapproximately75%oftheBellarinePeninsula’sthoroughfares.Thedensityof Aboriginalplacesinlandwasestimatedtobe1placeper6km²(cf.RichardsJordan1995:142),compared with1per km on thecoast(Rhoads1986:56).

SmallerScaleInvestigations

Rhodes(1999)conductedanarchaeologicalsurveyofa2.9hapropertywithintheDeakin UniversityWaurnPondscampusforproposedstudentaccommodation,c.1.1kmnorthofthecurrentstudyarea.Thestudyareawaslocated145mnorthofWaurnPondsCreekand characterisedbyparkland,containingarowofcypresspinetrees.Importedlandfillwasalso notedinsomepartsofthestudyarea(Rhodes1999:1-2). OneAboriginalplacewasidentified

duringthefieldsurvey(VAHR7721-0419)consistingofamarinechertcoreandabrokenquartziteflakelocatedneartheintersectionofNicolSouthDriveandReserveRoad.Rhodesnotedthatmarinechertwouldhavebeenbroughtintothearea,ortradedfromthecoast,whilethequartziteartefact,mostlikelyusedforwoodworking,wasmadeonlocallyavailable material(Rhodes1999:13).Rhodes(1999:12-15)determinedthatwhilebothartefactswereidentifiedinadisturbed context, theywerenotbroughtintothestudyareawithfill,andrather,mostlikelyrepresentedtheremainsofalargerAboriginalplacethathadsincebeendestroyed byagriculturallandusepractices.Thestudyareawasconsideredtohaveprovidedasuitable camping locationforAboriginalpeople,overlooking WaurnPonds Creek andaswamp150mto thesouth.Thestudyareawasdeterminedtohavepotentialtocontainadditionalstoneartefactsindisturbed subsurfacedeposits.Rhodes (1999a:1-2)conductedaplaceinspectionof stoneartefactsthatwereidentifiedduringmonitoringofworkswithinthevicinityofVAHR7721-0419.Thesecomprisedfoursilcretecores,foursilcreteflakesandabrokenquartzflakeidentifiedinblack/brownclayloamupto400mmbelowthegroundsurface.Charcoalwas identifiedinassociationwiththeartefacts,whichwaslaterdeterminedtobenon-culturalin origin.Thehighproportionofcoreswithintheassemblagewasinterpretedasrepresentinga stoneworkingsiteratherthanacampsite,withacampsitepossiblylocatedfurtherupthehill slopetothenorth.

ItwasdeterminedthattheadditionalstoneartefactsrepresentedpartofVAHR7721-0149had beendispersedbycircularploughing,andthattheartefactscatterwasunlikelytoextendanyfurthersouthoreast.Depositsinwhichthisculturalmaterialwasidentifiedcontainedintroducedfillandgravel,indicating thattheareahasbeensubjecttoextensivesoilmixingasa resultofploughinganduniversitydevelopmentworks(Rhodes1999a:1-3).

PaynterandMarshall(2003)conductedaculturalheritageassessmentofaparceloflandon thecornerofthePrincesHwyandRossackDriveatWaurnPonds,c.700meastoftheactivityarea.ThereportidentifiedthatregisteredAboriginalplaceswithintheregionaregenerally stoneartefactscattersassociatedwiththeWaurnPondsCreekfloodplainandsurroundingelevatedlandoverlookingthecreek,howeverAboriginalscarsonRiverRedGumsandburials mayalsooccur(PaynterandMarshall2003:1-14).Afieldsurveywasundertaken,howeverduetothelongpasturegrass,groundsurfacevisibilitywasverypoor.OneAboriginalplacewas identifiedduringthefieldsurvey(VAHR7721-0576)associatedwithdisturbedclaysoil redepositedonthegroundsurfacebytheconstructionofRossackDriveandtheinstallationof anelectricityeasement,indicatingthatartefactswerederivedfromsubsurfacedeposits. Artefactscomprised16flakesandangularfragmentsmadeonquartzandsilcrete(Paynterand Marshall2003:16-17).A program ofsubsurfacetesting, inthe form of rotary hoe transects,was undertakenacrossthestudyareatodeterminethenatureandextentofsurfacestoneartefacts.Atotalofninetransectswereexcavatedacrossthestudyarea,rangingfrom100to 200min length.Transectswereexaminedforartefactsandsamplesievingundertakenevery20

m.Anadditional12stoneartefactswereidentifiedwithinproximitytoVAHR7721-0576and includedinthisregistration.Twoadditionalstoneartefactswerelocatedwithinthewestern sectionofthestudyareaandregisteredasVAHR7721-0604.BothAboriginalplaceswereconsideredtobeoflowarchaeologicalsignificanceandwerenotinsitu,havingbeendisturbed bypriorlandusepracticesandinfrastructureconstruction(PaynterandMarshall2003:17-20).

Weaver(2001)conductedafieldsurveyofa10hapropertytotheeastofGhazeeporeRoadatWaurnPondsforaproposedresidentialdevelopment.Thestudyareawascharacterisedbypastorallandcomprisinganextanthouse,outbuildingsandpinewindrow,withWaurnPonds Creekformingthenorthernboundary.Thepropertyformedpartofadairycomplexandhas beenextensivelydisturbedbypriorlandusepractices(Weaver2001:1-3).OneAboriginalplace(VAHR7721-0461)wasidentifiedduringthefieldsurvey,comprisingfourstoneartefacts locatedontheinnerslopeofadambankwithinthesouthwestcornerofthestudyarea. Artefactscomprisedthreeflakedpiecesandabrokenblademade onsilcrete,quartzand quartzite.Theseartefactswerenotinsituandwereratedashavinglowarchaeological significance(Weaver2001:10).Weaver(2001:10)concludedthatAboriginalstoneartefacts occurintheWaurnPondsCreekvalleybetween50-300mfromthecreekbanksandarelikelytooccurinundisturbedalluvialdepositsbelowareasthathavebeenbuiltupwithfillduringmorerecentdevelopment.

Kaskadanis(2008)undertookaculturalheritageassessmentforSection4AoftheGeelongRing Road,extendingfromthePrincesHwyatWaurnPondstoAngleseaRoadlocatedc.250meastoftheactivityarea.Thestudyareaischaracterisedbyclearedundulatinglandthatwas formerlyusedforagriculturalpractices(Kaskadanis2008:1-9).ThedesktopreviewdeterminedthatallregisteredAboriginalplaceswithina1kmradiusofthestudyareacomprisedstoneartefact scatters,mostlikelyinfluencedbythepresence ofWaurn PondsCreek.The reviewalso establishedthattheentirestudyareahadbeensubjecttosomedegreeofdisturbancebyprior agriculturallanduseactivities,aswellasthemorerecentinstallationofmajorservices(e.g. sewer,gasandwater),adverselyaffectingtheintegrityoftheground(Kaskadanis2008:11-12,20-21).Nofieldsurveywasundertakenaspartoftheassessment,howeverasubsurfaceinvestigationproceededutilisingavarietyofmethods,includingexcavationpitsandshovel testpits,geotechnicaltestpitsandmachinetransects.Theplacementofsubsurfacetestingpits/transectswas'judgementbased',andsampledvariouslandformsintheactivityarea.Atotalof93subsurfacetestinglocationswereexcavatedacrossthestudyarea,recovering61stoneartefactsfromsixAboriginalplaces(VAHR7721-0844–7721-0849).Thestudyareawas changedduringtheprocessoftheinvestigation,whichresultedinVAHR77210844–7721- 0846,tooccuroutsideofthestudyarea.AsaresulttheassessmentreportonlydiscussesthethreeAboriginalplacesoccurringwithintherevisedstudyarea(Kaskadanis2008:25-29).

VAHR7721-0847–27stoneartefactsincludingcompleteandbrokenflakes,flakingdebris,abacked bladeandacore wereidentifiedatthisAboriginalplace. TheAboriginal placeislocatedonahillslopeoverlookingWaurnPondsCreektothesouthandwest,andwouldhaveprovidedagoodvantagepointoverthearea. Artefacts werenotidentifiedinsitu,andwererecoveredfromamaximumdepthof200mm,oftenin associationwithmetaldebris.TheAboriginalplacehadbeenimpactedbyploughing,whichhadverticallydisplacedartefacts.Thepresenceofa backedblade wasconsidered indicativeoftheAustralianSmallToolTradition,generally associatedwiththepast5000yearsofAboriginaloccupation(Kaskadanis2008:30-31,38).

VAHR7721-0848–14stoneartefactsincludingcompleteandbrokenflakes,flakingdebris,abrokentoolandacorewereidentifiedatthisAboriginalplace.TheAboriginal placeislocatedonahillslopeoverlookingWaurnPondsCreektothesouthandwest,andwouldhaveprovidedagoodvantagepointoverthearea. Artefacts werenotidentifiedinsitu,andwererecoveredfromamaximumdepthof200mm,oftenin associationwithmetaldebris.TheAboriginalplacehadbeenimpactedbyploughing,whichhadverticallydisplacedartefacts(Kaskadanis2008:33-34).
VAHR7721-0849–4stoneartefactsincludingbrokenflakes,flakingdebris,andacorewereidentifiedatthisAboriginalplace.TheAboriginalplaceislocatedonalowerhill slopeoverlookingWaurnPondsCreektothesouthandwest.Artefactswerenotidentifiedinsitu,andwererecoveredfromamaximumdepthof100mm,oftenin

associationwithbrickdebris, possiblyoverlyingclayfill(Kaskadanis 2008:34).

Basedontheseresults,Kaskadanis(2008:41-42)identifiedthefollowingcharacteristics commonacrossallthreeAboriginal places:

1.Archaeologicaldepositshaveexperiencedsomedegreeofgrounddisturbancesuchas historicalland-usepractices(e.g.clearanceofnativevegetation,ploughing/grazingactivities). Suchactivities mayhave‘re-distributed’stoneartefactsonthelandscape;

2.Resultsofthecomplexassessmentindicatethatthesitestratigraphyassociatedwiththesesitesareshallowandthatsoilprofilesareuniform,i.e.,nodistinctivetextureboundarieswith nodistinctive layers thatwouldbeconsidered ‘occupation’ layers;and,

3.Inadditiontotheabsenceofanydistinctiveoccupationallayers,allofthesesitesarelow- densityartefactscatterswithnodistinctivestone-knappingorbutcherysites,i.e.,primary(in situ)archaeologicaldeposits.

In 2007,TerraCultureundertook archaeological investigationsof the Geelong Regional Baseball Centreandsurroundingparklands.Marshall(2007)conductedanarchaeologicalsurveyofpartofthePioneerRoadreserveontheeasternbankofWaurnPondsCreekatthe GeelongandEast BelmontSaintsBaseballClubsonPioneerRoad(approximately2kmeastofthecurrentactivityarea).ThisassessmentwasrequiredfortheconstructionofanewbaseballfieldtoallowtheexistingcomplextoberemovedfortheconstructionoftheproposedWaurnPondsLeisurelinkAquaticCentre.Twolowdensityartefactscatterswererecordedduringthesurvey(VAHR7721- 0828,VAHR7721-0829).

MarshallandHyett(2007)undertookarchaeologicalinvestigationoftheproposed Waurn Ponds Leisurelink AquaticCentreatthecornerofColac RoadandPioneerRoadatWaurn Ponds (formerly theGeelongRegionalBaseballCentre). DespitehighnumbersofartefactsbeingrecoveredduringtheoriginalconstructionoftheBaseballCentre,noAboriginalcultural materialwasidentified byMarshallandHyett(2007,13).

WaurnPondsShoppingCentre

In2007TerraCultureundertookanarchaeologicalassessmentonthesiteofaproposedretail park,servicestationandassociatedcarparkingfacilitiesonthePrincesHighwayinWaurn

Ponds,adjacenttotheTownandCountryShoppingWorld,andapproximately2kmeastofthecurrentactivityarea.AstratifiedsubsurfacesamplingprogramidentifiedtwoAboriginal culturalheritageplaces;botharelow-densitystoneartefactscatters(VAHR7721-0869,VAHR7721-0895)andeachislocatedonalowriseassociatedwithaminortributaryoftheWaurn PondsCreek.Duetothelonghistoryofpastoralactivitieswithinthisareaneithersitewas consideredinsituandasaresultisdeemedtobeoflowscientificsignificance(Marshalletal. 2008).

Marshall andToscano(2009)undertookanarchaeologicalassessment ofaproposedretirementvillageinWaurnPonds.ThepropertyislocatedonthePrincesHighwayadjacenttotheproposedWaurnPondsShoppingCentre(archaeologicallyassessedin2008,seeMarshalletal. 2008).WithintheoriginalsurveyareasevenAboriginalculturalheritageplaceswereidentified;allartefactscattersassociatedwiththebanksandterracesofWaurnPondsCreek(VAHR7721- 0865,VAHR7721-0867,VAHR7721-0868,VAHR7721-0907,VAHR7721-0908,VAHR7721-

0909,VAHR7721-0910).Eachsitewasassessedforitsscientificsignificanceand,asaresultof thesefindings,theproposedsiteboundarywasrealignedandthedevelopmentplans significantlyalteredtopreservethreeofthesesites(VAHR7721-0865,VAHR77210867,VAHR7721-0868).Theremainingfoursites werenotconsideredsignificantenoughto warrantfurtherchangetothedevelopment.

O’Reillyetal.(2010)completedaCHMPfor140haofamuchlargerresidentialdevelopmentatArmstrongCreek(morethan1kmtothesoutheastoftheactivityarea).Thepropertywas largelysituatedonvolcanicplainsdissectedbythealluvialandmarshymarginsofArmstrongCreek.TheevaluationdeterminedthattheactivitywouldimpactonnineAboriginalcultural heritageplaces(VAHR7721-0992,VAHR7721-0985,VAHR7721-0986,VAHR7721-0987,VAHR

7721-0988,VAHR7721-0989,VAHR77210991,VAHR7721-0993,VAHR7721-0994),threeof

whichweredeemedofmoderatescientificsignificanceandthusinneedofsalvage(VAHR7721-0985,VAHR7721-0986,VAHR7721-0992).Oneofthesethreesites(VAHR7721-0992)

was ahighdensity artefactscatter,andmitigation measureswereinitiatedinordertoprotect1ha ofthehighestdensityareas ofthesite.

HistoricalandEthno-historicalAccountsoftheGeographicRegion

Thedesktopassessmentmustincludeareviewofhistoricalandethnohistoricalaccountsof Aboriginaloccupationinthegeographicregionidentified insection4.2 (r.57(1)(d)).Therefore,a reviewofthehistoricalandethnohistoricalaccountsofAboriginaloccupationwithinthegeographicregionhasbeenundertaken.

TheStudyAreaislocatedwithintheWadawurrunglanguagegroup,whooccupiedtheareaof SouthCentralVictoriasituatedbetweenBeaufortandPortPhillipBay(Clark1990,Fig.11).ThestudyareaislocatedinaregionthatmayhavebeenfrequentedbytwodistinctWadawurrungclans,the Bengalatbalugand Wadawurrungbalug.

TheBengalatbalugaredescribedasoccupyinglandencompassingIndentedHead(Clark1990,316-7).ThewordBengalawastheAboriginalwordforIndentedHeadand Bengalatbalugmeans‘peopleofIndentedHead’.Inhis1835journal,WilliamToddgavethenamesoffivemalemembersoftheBengalatbalugandnotedthattheyhadseven wivesandfifteenchildrenbetweenthem(Clark1990,317).
TheWadawurrungbalugaredescribedasoccupyingtheBarraboolHills,southwestof Geelong, andtheareasouthtothecoast (Clark1990,330-4). Itis notclearhowmuchof theBellarinePeninsulacanbeconsideredWadawurrungbalugland,thoughTindale(1974)includesmostofthepeninsulawiththisclan.TheescapedconvictWilliam BuckleywasadoptedintotheWadawurrungbalugafterhewasrecognisedastheresuscitatedMurrangurk,amemberoftheclanlongsincedead(Clark1990,331).

Buckleyremainedwiththeclanfrom1803until1835.In1860,JohnGarrattreportedthattheWadawurrungbalughadagoodshelterhuterectedatDuneed,5kmsouthof theactivityarea.

GeorgeArmytage,anearlylandholderintheGeelongarea,notedthattheWadawurrungdependeduponfishinginthesummerandautumnperiodsandhuntingandtheplantfood murnonginthewinterandspringperiods(inBride1969,173).Theunevendistributionof particularresources,suchasgreenstoneforground-edgeaxes,resultedinatradeand exchangenetworkbetweendifferentclangroupsacrossthestudyregion.Forexample,theWadawurrungattendedmeetingsatMountNooratandatMirrewuaeSwamp(approximately140and160kmwestofGeelong,respectively).Dawson(1881)describedsuchtradeatMountNoorat.

“…theAboriginesfromthe Geelongdistrictbroughtthebeststonesfor makingaxesandakindofwattle gumcelebratedforitsadhesiveness.TheGeelonggumissousefulinfixinghandlesofstoneaxesand splintersofflintingumandforcementingthejoinsofbarkbuckets,thatitiscarriedinlargelumpsall over theWesternDistrict. (Dawson1881,78)”.

AnneDrysdale,theownerofBoronggookStation,whichislocatedsouthofGeelongnearLakeConnewarre,reportedseeingAboriginal people inthe forestbetweenCorio and herhomestead on18thAugust,1841(Brown1958,84).However,inOctober1841,shereportedthat‘There havebeenveryfewnativesheresincewecame,theseonlypassing…’(Brown1958,114).In Novemberof thesameyearDrysdalereportedhavingfish that werecaughtintheBarwonRiverbyAboriginalpeople.Theyreportedlycaughtlargequantitiesintheriverbesidethestation (Clark1990,291).

In1861,thesurvivingWada wurrungweregatheredontoaparcel oflandatMtDuneed,known asthe DuneedAboriginalReserve,onwhicha‘shelter hut’hadbeeninstalled(Clark 1990,300). Theremnantpopulation,whichatthattimeappearstohavenumberedelevenpeople,wereencouragedtostayattheDuneedReserveandwereprohibitedfromstayingintheGeelongTownshipaftersundown.Thereisconsiderablehistoricdetailonthefateofparticular individuals.TheDuneedAboriginalReserveislocatedapproximately150msouthofthecurrent

StudyAreaandhasalwaysbeenconsideredtobeofhighsocialsignificancebylocalAboriginal communities.

ItisthoughtthattheWadawurrungbalugweretheclanwhoadoptedWilliamBuckleyin1803(Clark1990:331).RobinsonconsideredthattheWadawurrungbalugexercisedconsiderable influenceoverotherclans intheeasternsectionofthe WesternDistrict (Clark1990:).LocatedaroundGeelong,theWadawurrungbalugwerehighlyexposedtoEuropeansintheearlydaysofVictoriansettlement,andmembersoftheclanwerebeingemployedbysettlerstocollectstray stock andcutwoodfromas early asabout1839 (Clark 1990:331-332). This contactledto therapiddemiseoftraditionallifewaysandindeedtotheWadawurrungbalugthemselves.Recordedtonumber300peoplein1837,by1853therewereonly17survivingclanmembers.ThesurvivorsrefusedtooccupyareservesetupalongtheBarwonRiveratBuntingdale,asit wasnotintheirterritory(Clark1990:293,332).Thelastfull-bloodmaleoftheclanreportedly diedin1885(Brownhill1955, inClark1990:333).

ThissummaryofAboriginalbehaviourpatternswithinthestudyregionduringthemid- nineteenthcenturyindicatesthatoccupationintheregionwasundertakenonaseasonalbasis, characterisedbytemporaryencampmentsshiftingbetweenresource-richzonesatdifferenttimesoftheyear.Largecampsiteswereoftenplacedclosetoriversandcreeks.Suchcamps weregenerallyoccupiedbysmallerfamilygroupsforafewdays,orlongerinresource-rich areas.Campswereshiftedregularlytotakeadvantageoffoodsastheycameintoseason. Campsandtravelrouteswerealsolocatedtotakeadvantageofresourcessuchasstoneformakingtools.Inthewesterndistrict,silcreteoutcropswouldhavebeenexploitedfortool- makingmaterial.Physicalevidenceofsuchactivitieswouldhavebeenleftbehindasstoneworkingdebrisanddiscardsat quarryandcamp sites.

TheLandformsandGeomorphologyoftheStudyArea

TheStudyAreaislocatedintheWesternPlainsgeomorphicunit,characterisedbyundulatingsedimentaryplainsgenerallycomprisingmarinesandsdepositedbytheretreatingPliocenesea

(1.6-5millionyearsago).TheseplainshavebeendissectedbywaterbodiessuchasWaurn PondsCreek,exposingtheunderlyingOligoceneagelimestoneandmarl,andallowingthedevelopmentofHolocenealluvialsilts(Robinsonet.al.2003:1-32).

ThestudyareaandsurroundinghillscomprisetheJanJucFormation,containingcalcareous clays,marinemarls,andlimestonedatingtoamarineincursionaround4millionyearsago (Oligocene).Sedimentslaiddownduringthiscyclecomprisecalcareoussoilsexposedbytheweatheringoflimestoneandmarlexposedalongthevalleys.Soilshaveyellow-brown calcareoussodictexturecontrastsoils,andarecoarseinstructure(DPI2014).

TheStudyAreacomprisestheshallowvalleyofArmstrongCreekWestBranchandhas sustainedgrounddisturbance causedby a numberofprocesses, includingacomplete clearanceofnaturalvegetation.

TheEnvironmentalDeterminantsofthe StudyArea

Climate

TemperatureaveragesatnearbyGeelongindicateacoldtohotmaximumaverageof6.8°Cin Julyto22.9°CinFebruary.Minimumaveragetemperaturesthroughouttheyearrangefrom6.8°CinJulyto13.9°CinFebruary.Theannualaveragerainfallfortheareais687mm.TheseclimateconditionswouldhaveplacednorestrictionsonIndigenousorEuropeanoccupationof thearea(LCC1991).

WaterSources

SourcesoffreshwaterexistintheStudyArea.ArmstrongCreekWestBranchtraversesthestudyarea.

DescriptionofExistingandPre-ContactVegetation

TheStudyArealieswithinasingleEcologicalVegetationCommunity(EVC)withintheStudyArea priorto1750;EVCName:GrassyWoodland,EVCNo:175.GrassyWoodland(EVC175);a variableopeneucalyptwoodlandto15mtalloroccasionallySheoakwoodlandto10mtalloveradiversegroundlayerofgrassesandherbs.Theshrub componentisusuallysparse.Itoccurs on sites withmoderatefertilityongentleslopesorundulatinghillsonarangeofgeologies.

BurningactivitybyAboriginalpeoplemayalsohaveinfluencedtheincreaseinbiodiversitythatoccurredduringtheperiod(AitkenandKershaw1993:78).Burningservedtoopentheareaforaccess,facilitatenewgrowth,andflushoutanimalsforhunting.

TheexistingvegetationoftheStudyAreabearsnoresemblancetothedescriptionofabove.TheonlyvegetationisdensegrassandbushesaroundthewestbranchofArmstrongCreek.No remnantnativevegetationremainswithintheStudyArea.Therearenonativetreesonthesubjectland.

InformationonFaunaoftheStudyArea

ResourcesavailabletotheWadawurrungwouldhavebeenbothconsiderableandvaried,with awiderangeofplant,animalandcoastalresourcesavailableclosetotheStudyArea.Someof theanimalresourcesutilisedwere:echidna,swamprat,blackwallaby,brushtailandringtail possum,brownmouse,wombat,kangaroos andpotentiallyfortyspeciesofbirds(Sullivan 1981:141).Birds,suchasemuandbustards,werealsoeaten,aswerebirdeggs.Birdswerecaughtwiththrowingsticksorintraps.Fishandeelswereimportantresourcesandwerespearedin riversorcaughtinnets(ThomascitedinSullivan1981:24).Althoughuseofthehookandlinewasobserved,itislikelythatthiswasapracticeresultingfromcontactwithsealers(Sullivan 1981:24).Therewouldhavebeenvariationsinstaplespeciesdiversityandabundancewithin thesurroundingregionandthisinadditiontoseasonalitywouldhaveinfluencedsitelocation andfrequencyofoccupation (Walsh1987).

Plantfoodswereextensivelyexploitedandincludedberries,fungi,roots,tubers,bulbs,leaves,andpithfromfleshyplants,seedsandsap.Gumwasalsocollectedfromthewattleandstoredinknownlocationsforseasonswhenfoodwaslessabundant(ThomascitedinSullivan1981:25).SomeoftheplantresourcesthatwereutilisedbyAboriginalpeople,andwouldhavebeen availablewithintheimmediatearea,include:wattlegum,seacelery,coastalbanksia,angular pigface,pinkbindweed,whitecorrea,rubysaltbush,seaberrysaltbush,coastbeard‐heathand climbinglignum(Sullivan1981:Appendix2).

StoneResources

Nostoneresourcesandoutcropssuitableforthemanufactureofstonetoolsarefoundwithin theStudyArea.

LandUseHistoryRelevantto theStudyArea

In 1836 thefirstwaveofsquattersarrived. In1837,inresponseto apetitionfromlocalsettlers wantingprotectionfromtheAborigines,theGovernorofthecolony,GovernorBourke,appointedCaptainFosterFyanstotheMagistracyand‘instructedtheSurveyorGeneralofNew SouthWalestolayouttwotownshipsinGeelong–onenearthebaytheotherneartheriver’. HoddlereservedthelandatthejunctionbetweentheMooraboolandBarwonRiversforthis townbutthebridgefurtherupstreambecamethefocusofsettlement.Fyanswasalso appointedtoissuepasturinglicensesinthearea,thefirstofficialrecognitionthatGeelongexisted.AtownwassurveyedbetweentheBarwonRiverandCorioBayandthetownof Geelongofficiallycameintoexistenceon26thOctober1838,thoughthefirstsaleoftownlots wasnothelduntilFebruary1839.LargeparcelsoflandwerepurchasedfromtheCrownfrom1840onwards.

ShireofBarrabool

ThemunicipalitiesofHighton,GrovedaleandWaurnPondsarelocatedintheShireof Barrabool,whichstretchesfromtheBarwonRivertothenorthandsouthtowardLornealongtheGreatOceanRoad.Thesesettlementswerelocatedpredominantlyalongmajorwaterways suchastheBarwonRiverandlocalcreeksincludingWaurnPondsCreekandThompsonCreek. The mostattractiveland withintheBarrabool shire waslocatedalongWaurnPondsCreek,with landtothesouthwestconsideredtooroughtosettle(Wynd1992:9).JohnCharlesDarkwas oneoftheearliestpastoralistsintheBarraboolshirearea, developing asheeprunin1836neartoday’sPollocksford.AsurveyorwhohadworkedinTasmaniapriortocomingtoPortPhilip Bay,DarklefttheareaayearlaterbutwasrapidlyfollowedbyCaptainFrederickDewingand WilliamRoadknight,whosettledtotheeastofPollocksfordalongtheBarwonRiver(Wynd 1992:7-8).Theintroductionofsquattersintotheareawascharacterisedbytheoccupationof largepastoralrunsclosetomajorriversandcreeks.By1842mostoftheavailablelandwithin theBarraboolShirewasoccupied,withsquatters nowmovingfurthersouthtoareaspreviously deemedunappealing,predominantlyscrubland(Pescott1985:28).Dr.AlexanderThompson alsosettledintheareaduringlate1836,developing“Thompson’sOldStation”closetothe junctionoftheBarwonandMooraboolrivers. By1840hehadmovedsouthofthetownshipof

Geelong,purchasing640 acresoflandeastoftheBarwonRiverandcreatingthe homesteadhenamed‘Kardinia’,aswellasanotherrunextendingsouthfromtheBarwonRivertoSpring Creek.ParishofBarraboolThefirstsaleofdividedlotswithintheBarraboolshireoccurredin 1840andcontinueduntilthemid1850s.Thesalewasof25blocksofvaryingsizesoflandin thenewlydefinedBarraboolparish,locatedbetweentheBarwonRiverandWaurnPonds Creek, withlandinthe Barraboolhillsprovingparticularly popular.The shirewasslowlydividedintoeightparishes,althoughby1847onlytheparishesofBarrabool,Duneed,Modewarre,and Gnarwarreweremappedandproclaimed.Theremainingshireswereslowlydividedupand soldoverthenext30 years.Acensus for the ParishofBarraboolin 1854shows atotal populationof857andcommentedonthevarietyofimmigrantpopulationsinhabitingthearea(Wynd1992:16).Thisshiftinlandownershipandsaleputconsiderablepressureonsquatters intheareawhowereforcedtorelinquishthelandorbuyitfromthegovernment.MuchofthelandwithintheParishofBarraboolwasboughtbyspeculatorsandsubsequentlysoldorleased tosettlersandpastoralists.ThiscreatedanareabetweentheBarwonRiverandWaurnPonds chainofpondsthatwaspredominantlyagricultural,withlargefarmslocatedonbothsidesof theBarwonRiver.Barraboolmaintainedareputationasafarmingareawhereitwascommon tosubdividelargerfarmsintosmallerholdingstomaintainagriculturalgrowthand developmentinwheat,oats,andhayproduction(Wynd1992:21-22).WaurnPonds Oneof thelargesthomesteadsinWaurnPondswastheClaremontestate.Builtinthe1850s,thepropertyincluded245acresoflandbetweentheGeelong-ColacRailwaylineandWaurnPonds Creek.Thehomesteadhadbeenbuiltwithbricksthatwerebakedinakilnonthepropertyin 1857andcontainedafarm,dairy,fruitandvegetables.Thepropertywassoldinthe1880sto theBaumfamily whogrewfruitandvegetables.

Europeansettlement wouldhavesignificantlyimpactedonAboriginalarchaeologicalsitesin theStudyArea.Pastlandusetogetherwiththeclearingoftheoriginalvegetationmeansthatanysurfacelithicsitewouldnowretainlittlespatialortemporalintegrityandassuchhavereduced scientificsignificance.

SpecificLandUseHistory

AstheStudy AreawasinanEVCinwhichwoodlandwasthedominanttype,theremovalofthis nativevegetation wouldhavecausedagreat dealofgrounddisturbance.

ConclusionsfromtheDesktopAssessment

Overall,thegeographicregionofwhichtheStudyAreaformsaparthasbeensubjectto thoroughandin-depthculturalheritageinvestigation.Basedontheresultsofprevious archaeologicalassessmentscarriedoutwithinthegeographicregionandthedistributionof registeredAboriginalplaces,theDesktopAssessmentestablishedthatthereisapotentialforAboriginalculturalheritagetooccurintheactivityarea.

InsummarisingourcurrentknowledgeofthegeographicregioninwhichtheStudyAreais located,thefollowingpredictive statementsshouldbetakenintoaccount:

TherearenoregisteredAboriginalCulturalHeritagePlaceslocatedintheStudyArea;
TherehasbeennopreviousarchaeologicalassessmentoftheStudyArea;
PreviousarchaeologicalassessmentsintheregionhaveindicatedthatAboriginal archaeologicalsiteswithintheregionarelikelytocomprisestoneartefactsinsurfaceexposuresandshallowsubsurfacedepositsonelevatedlandforms(e.g.hilltops,hill slopes)overlookingwatercourses;
Thereis potentialforhigherdensity stoneartefactstooccurinintact soildeposits closertoArmstrongCreek;
Therewouldhavebeenarangeofplant,animalandmineralresourcesavailableforIndigenouspeoplelivingin,orin theregionof,theStudyArea;
Artefactscattersarethemostlikelypredominantsitetype.
TheStudyAreawasmostlikelysubjecttobothburningepisodespriortoEuropean settlementandafterduringlandclearance.Thelatterinparticularwouldhavehada significanteffectonthesoils.Thusanysurfacesitesexistingatthetimearelikelyto have beenhighlydisturbedanddistributed.
Artefactsmadeonavarietyofmaterialincludingsilcrete,quartzandquartzite,and lesser quantities of coastalflint.
MicrolithsindicativeoftheAustralianSmallToolTradition,andgenerallyassociatedwiththepast5000yearsofAboriginaloccupation,maybepresent.
OtherformsofAboriginalculturalheritage(e.g.scarredtrees,burialsormounds)areunlikelytooccurintheStudyAreagiventheclearanceofallnativevegetationand

intensiveagriculturalactivityduringthenineteenthcentury.

4.2ArchaeologicalSurvey

Theaimsofthearchaeologicalsurveywereto:

AttempttoidentifyAboriginalculturalheritage;
Undertakeconsultation withrepresentative(s)oftheRAPapplicants;
Identifyanyareasofpotentialarchaeologicalsensitivitydeposit(thatmayrequire sub- surfacetesting)and;and
Documenttheextent ofsignificantgrounddisturbanceintheStudyArea.

ArchaeologicalsurveyMethodology

Focuswasconcentratedonareasofhighgroundsurfacevisibility.Allmatureindigenoustreeswereinspectedtodetermineiftheywereculturallyscarred.Areasofpotentialarchaeological sensitivity/depositsandsignificantgrounddisturbancewererecorded.Groundsurfacevisibilityandsurfaceexposurewasrecordedinordertodeterminetheeffectivegroundsurveycoverage.Therewerenosignificantconstraintstocarryingoutthe survey.

Results of Ground Survey

AsystematicsurfacesurveyoftheStudyAreawasundertakenonthe6thofMarch2014.Thesurveywasundertakenbyculturalheritageadvisor MatthewBarker ofBHMP/L.

ThepropertycomprisestheStudyAreashowninMap4.TheStudyAreacomprisesopen grazinglandthatslopesgently down tothe westbranchofArmstrongCreekinthecentreofthestudyarea(Plates1-8inTable1).Allpartsofthestudyareahavebeenclearedoftheoriginal nativevegetationandmostoftheStudyAreahasbeenusedforagriculturalpurposessinceatleastthe1850s.Noremnantnativevegetationremains intheStudyArea.

NoIndigenousarchaeologicalsiteswereidentifiedwithintheStudyAreaduringthefield investigation(thisincludesartefactscatters,scarredtrees,caves,caveentrancesandrockshelters).

TheabsenceofanyevidenceforIndigenousculturalsitesmaybeduetotheStudyAreahavingincurred disturbanceinthepast,includingtheclearance ofnativevegetation.

Initiallytheentirepropertywouldhavebeenclearedofnativevegetation.Thiswouldhavecontributedtosoil erosionandthemovementofanyAboriginal culturalmaterialthatmayhaveexistedonthegroundsurface;thustheremovaloftopsoilsandthedestructionofanysurfaceornearsurfaceAboriginalculturalmaterials.

Map4:SurveyArea

Table1:PhotographsfromArchaeologicalSurvey

Plate1: View of thestudyareafrom westernboundary(M. Barker 6/3/14),

facingeast.

Plate2: View of theStudyAreashowing gentlysloping landfrom northeastcorner(M. Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest.

Plate3: View ofthedaminthecentre eastofthe StudyArea(M.Barker 6/3/14),

facing southwest

Plate4: View ofdrainage lineincentre east(M. Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest.

Plate5: View ofthe dammedsectionof Armstrong CreekWestBranchinthe centreeastof theStudyArea(M. Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest

Plate6: View ofdrybedandbanksof Armstrong CreekWestBranchinthe centreofthe StudyArea(M.Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest

Plate7: View ofrabbitburrowsinthealluvialbanksof Armstrong CreekWestBranchinthe centreofthe StudyArea(M.Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest

Plate8: View of creekbedofArmstrong CreekWestBranchinthe centre ofthe StudyArea(M.Barker 6/3/14),

facingwest

GroundSurfaceVisibilityandEffectiveSurveyCoverage

Effective coverageisquantifiedto accountforgroundsurfacevisibilityandexposure limitations tosurveycoverage,andgivesagoodestimateoftheactualproportionoftheStudyArea investigated.

Groundsurfacevisibilityisamajorfactorinobscuringarchaeologicalmaterials,andcanbedefinedashowmuchofthesurfaceisvisibleandwhatotherfactors(suchasvegetation,gravelsorleaflitter)maylimitthedetectionofarchaeologicalmaterials(BurkeandSmith 2004).Thehigherthelevelofgroundsurfacevisibility,themorelikelyitisthatAboriginal culturalmaterialcanbeidentified;thereforeagoodlevelofgroundsurfacevisibilityenablesa betterrepresentationofplacesthanareaswherethegroundsurfaceisobscured(Ellenderand Weaver1994).

Ellender andWeaver(1994)attemptedtoquantifyground surfacevisibilityfora1m²area:

0-5%:Unabletoseesoil;
5-10%:Occasionalglimpseofsoil;
10-20%:Occasionalpatchof bareground;
20-50%:Frequentpatchesofbareground;
50-70%:About halfthegroundbare;
75-100%:Morethanhalfthe bareground;ploughedfields.

GroundsurfacevisibilityinthemajorityoftheStudyArea(Plates1-5inTable1)waslow(10%),andthereforetherewaslittlepossibility ofidentifyingarchaeologicaldepositsonthesurface.Itisestimatedthatthe effectivesurveycoveragewaslessthan 10%.Groundsurfacevisibilitywas higher(20-30%)onthenorthernbanktheArmstrongCreektributary(Plates6-8)whichhas beensubjecttoconsiderableexposureduetograzingandrabbitburrows allowingforagreatereffectivesurveycoverageofbetween20-30%.

ConclusionsoftheGroundSurvey

TheresultsofthearchaeologicalsurveyindicatethattheStudyAreacompriseslandthatis potentiallysensitivetoAboriginalarchaeologicalsitesandisalandformthatpreviousstudies withinthevicinityofthestudyareahaveshowntocontainAboriginalculturalmaterial.Theareawithin100mofthewestbranchofArmstrongCreek(Map4)isconsideredtobeof moderatetohigharchaeologicalsensitivitywiththeremainderoflowpotentialsensitivity.

Part2–Cultural HeritageManagementRecommendations

5.0SpecificCultural Heritage ManagementRequirements

Basedontheresultsofthearchaeologicalassessment,thefollowingmanagementrecommendationsaremadefor landcomprisingtheStudyArea.

5.1AboriginalHeritage

UnderSections27-28oftheAboriginalHeritageAct(2006)itisanoffencetoknowinglycarryoutanActthatharmsAboriginalculturalheritageortoknowinglycarryoutanActlikelyto harmAboriginalculturalheritage,includingAboriginalarchaeologicalsites.Insomecircumstances,theActrequiresthepreparationofaCulturalHeritageManagementPlan (CHMP)whereaproposed activityisahighimpact activity,asspecifiedintheAboriginal HeritageRegulations2007andwherethatactivityoccursinanareaofculturalheritagesensitivitydefinedintheRegulations.ThepurposeofaCHMPistoeitherdemonstratethatan activitywillnotharmAboriginalculturalheritageortomitigatetheimpactsofanactivityon Aboriginalculturalheritage.

ACHMPisanAboriginalheritageassessmentwhichmustbepreparedtostandardsprescribed intheAboriginal HeritageRegulations2007.TheAboriginal HeritageAct2006providesblanketprotectionforallAboriginalculturalheritageinVictoria.TherearesubstantialpenaltiesundertheActforknowinglyundertakinganactivitywhichharms orislikelytoharmAboriginal culturalheritage.

Whentheassessmentdescribedaboveiscompleted,aCHMPmustbepreparedaccordingtoa formatprescribedintheAboriginalHeritageRegulations2007.Whencompleted,theCHMPmustbesubmittedforevaluation.Ifaplanningpermitisrequiredforanactivity,approval cannotbegranteduntiltheCHMPhasbeencompletedandevaluated'.WherenoRAPshavebeenappointed,AAVwillstillseektheopinionofAboriginalCommunityOrganisationswho haveappliedtobecomeRAPswhenevaluatingthe CHMP.For thisreason,it isstronglyadvisabletoconsultwithRAPapplicants,evenifnoRAPhasbeenappointed.Wherean approvalis issuedfor aCHMP,themanagementrecommendationsforAboriginalcultural heritagecontainedintheCHMP,arebindingontheproponentforthelifetimeoftheproject(activity).

Recommendation1

Nofurtherarchaeologicalassessmentisrequiredforrezoningofthestudyarea.ACultural HeritageManagementPlan mustbeundertakenforfuturedevelopmentofthestudyarea.

UndertheAboriginalHeritageAct2006andinaccordancewiththeAboriginalHeritageRegulations2007amandatoryCulturalHeritageManagementPlan(CHMP)isrequiredfortheproposedactivity,because:

ThestudyareacontainsanareaofCulturalHeritageSensitivityidentifiedaslandwithin 200metresofawaterway(AboriginalHeritageRegulations2007,Part2,Div3,Reg. 23(1));and

Theproposedactivityisahighimpactactivity(AboriginalHeritageRegulations2007,Part2,Div5,Reg46.Residentialandcommercialsubdivisionsarehighimpactactivities.

ThepurposeoftheCHMPistoidentifyandassessthenature,extentandsignificanceof Aboriginalsites,objectsandculturalheritagevalueswithinthesubjectlandandtoprovidemitigation,protectionandcontingencyprocedurestomanagethosevaluesbefore,duringand afterdevelopmentoftheland.

InaccordancewithSection61oftheAboriginalHeritageAct(2006),thefollowingmandatorymattersareconsideredbythisCHMP:

WhethertheactivitywillbeconductedinawaythatavoidsharmtoAboriginalcultural heritage;
Ifitdoesnotappeartobepossibletoconducttheactivityinawaythatavoidsharmto Aboriginal cultural heritage, whether the activity will be conducted in a way that

minimisesharmtoAboriginalculturalheritage;and

AnyspecificmeasuresrequiredforthemanagementofAboriginalculturalheritagelikelytobeaffectedbytheactivity,bothduringandaftertheactivity.

Recommendation2

AsuggestedmethodologyfortheCHMPwillinvolvethefollowingprocess:

SubmitanNoticeofIntenttoAboriginalAffairsVictoriaandtheWAC;
PresenttheresultsofthedesktopassessmenttotheWAC;
Undertakeacomprehensivearchaeologicalsurvey oftheproposedalignmentwithWACrepresentatives;
DiscusstheresultsofthesurveywiththeWAC;
Devise an appropriate strategy for a complex assessment (subsurface testing) in consultationwiththeWAC;
Discussthe resultsofthecomplexassessmentwith the WAC;
Manageanysites in consultationwiththeWAC;and
Manage future heritage values in consultation with the WAC (such as interpretivesignage).

5.2EuropeanHeritage

Therearenohistoricsiteswithinthestudyarea.Thestudyareaisconsideredtohaveverylow potentialsensitivityforhistoricarchaeologicalsites.Nofurtherinvestigationisrequired.

References

AboriginalHeritageAct2006AboriginalHeritageRegulations2007AboriginalAffairsVictoria2007a

GuidetoPreparingAboriginalCulturalHeritageManagementPlans.

Aitken,D.L.andA.P.Kershaw1993.

HolocenevegetationandenvironmentalhistoryofCranbourneBotanicGarden,Victoria. ProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyofVictoria105(1):67-80.

Barwick,D.E.1984

‘MappingthePast:anAtlas ofVictorianClans 1835-1904. Part 1.’Aboriginal History:1-2.

Bunce,D.1858.

Extractsfrompreviousworkspresentedasevidencein'ReportoftheSelectCommitteeoftheLegislativeCouncilontheAborigines',1858-59,inVictorianLegislativeCouncil,Votesand Proceedings,GovernmentPrinter.

Clark,I.1990

‘Aboriginal LanguagesandClans’MonashUniversity Publications inGeographyNo. 37. Coutts,P.J.F.1981

Coastal archaeology of Victoria Part 1:The morphology of coastal archaeological sites.

ProceedingsoftheRoyalSocietyofVictoria92(1):67-80.

Coutts,P.J.FandD.CWitter1976

SitesofSpecialScientificInterestintheVictorianCoastalRegion:Archaeology.

Ellender,I.andF.Weaver.1994.

AnArchaeologicalSurveyofPortPhillipBay.ManuscriptheldbyAboriginalAffairsVictoria. UnpublishedreporttotheAustralianHeritageCommissionandAboriginalAffairsVictoria.

Goulding,M.1988.

AboriginalOccupationofthe MelbourneArea,District2.LandConservationCouncil. Haydon,G.H.1846.

FiveyearsexperienceinAustralia.Felix,London.

Jamieson,R.1853.

LetterinBride,T.F.(ed.)Lettersfrom VictorianPioneers,Heinemann,Melbourne1969:89-90.

LCC1991

TheMelbourneAreaDistrict2.LandConservationCouncil:Melbourne.

McCrae,G.1934

Georgiana’sJournal–Melbourneahundredyearsago.(ed.H.McCrae)(AngusRobertson,Melbourne)

Murphy,A.1997.

AnOverviewoftheAboriginalArchaeology withinthe ‘CaseyFoothills’,Narre WarrenNorth andHarkaway.ReporttotheCityofCasey.

Presland,G.1994.

AboriginalMelbourne. TheLostLandoftheKulinPeople.McPheeGribblePublishers,Victoria.

Smyth,R.B.1878.

TheAboriginesofVictoriaandotherPartsofAustraliaandTasmania(2vols.).GovernmentPrinter,Melbourne

Spillane,E.A1971

‘AboriginalRelics ontheMorningtonPeninsula’VictorianNaturalist88: 337-341.

Spillane,E.A.1974

AnAboriginalCampat Portsea.VictorianNaturalistVol9,pp181-191.

Sullivan,H.1981

AnArchaeologicalSurveyoftheMorningtonPeninsula,Victoria.MinistryforConservation,Victoria.

Sutherland,M.A.1888

Victoriaanditsmetropolis–pastandpresent.McCarron,BirdandCo.Publishers,Melbourne. Vol1.pp.39.

Thomas,W.1838-67,WilliamThomasPapers,1838-67. UncataloguedMSSSet214,

Items1-24,MitchellLibrary,Sydney.Willis,J.H.1955

Robert Brown’s Bass Straitjournal ofApril/May 1802(EmbracinglandingsfromtheInvestigator at KingIslandandPortPhillip).TranscribedbyJ.H.WillisandC.I.Skewes.Muelleria:an AustralianJournalof Botany1:46–51.

Appendices

Appendix 1:Glossary

Angularfragment:Apieceofstonethatisblockyorangular,notflake-like.

Archaeology:Thestudyoftheremainsofpasthuman activity.

AreaofArchaeologicalSensitivity:Apart ofthelandscapethatcontainsdemonstrated occurrencesofculturalmaterial.Thepreciselevelofsensitivitywilldependonthedensityand significanceofthematerial.

Artefactscatter:Asurfacescatterofculturalmaterial.Aboriginalartefactscattersaredefined asbeingtheoccurrenceoffiveormoreitemsofculturalmaterialwithinanareaofabout100m2(AboriginalAffairsVictoria1993).Artefactscattersareoftentheonlyphysicalremains ofplaceswhere people havelivedcamped,preparedandeatenmealsandworked.

BP:BeforePresent.Thepresentisdefinedas1950.

Backedblade(geometricmicrolith):Backingistheprocessbywhichoneormoremargins containconsistentretouchoppositetothesharpworkingedge.Abackedbladeisabladeflakethathasbeenabruptlyretouchedalong oneormoremarginsoppositethesharpworkingedge.Backedpiecesincludebackedbladesandgeometricmicroliths.Backedbladesareafeatureof theAustralianSmallTool Traditiondatingfrombetween5,000and1,000yearsagoinsouthern Australia(Mulvaney1975).

Blade:Astoneflakethatisat leasttwice aslongasitiswide.

Burial:Usuallyasub-surfacepitcontaininghumanremains andsometimesassociatedartefacts.

Core:Astonepiecefromwhichaflakehasbeenremovedbypercussion(strikingit)orbypressure.Itisidentifiedbythe presenceofflakescars showing thenegativeattributesofflakes,fromwhereflakeshavebeenremoved.

Ethnography:Thescientificdescription oflivingcultures.

Exposure:Referstothedegreetowhichthesub-surfaceofthelandcanbeobserved.Thismaybeinfluencedbynaturalprocessessuchaswinderosionorthecharacterofthenativevegetation,andbylandusepractices,suchasploughingorgrading.Itisgenerallyexpressedin termsofthepercentageofthesub-surfacevisibleforanobserveronfoot.

Flake:Astonepiece removedfromacorebypercussion (strikingit)or bypressure.It is identifiedbythepresenceofastrikingplatformandbulbofpercussion,notusuallyfoundona naturallyshatteredstone.

Formaltool:Anartefactthathasbeenshapedbyflaking,includingretouch,orgrindingtoa predeterminedformforuseasatool.Formaltoolsincludescrapers,backedpiecesandaxes.

GDA94orGeocentricDatumofAustralia1994:Asystemoflatitudesandlongitudes,or

eastandnorthcoordinates,centredatthecentreoftheearth'smass.GDA94iscompatiblewithmodernpositioningtechniquessuchastheGlobalPositioningSystem(GPS).Itsupersedesoldercoordinatesystems(AGD66,AGD84).GDA94isbasedonaglobalframework,theIERS TerrestrialReferenceFrame(ITRF),butisfixedtoanumberofreferencepointsinAustralia. GDA94istheVictorianGovernmentStandardandspatialcoordinatesforexcavations,transectsandplacesin CHMPdocuments.

Hearth:anorganicsub-surfacefeature;itindicatesaplacewhereAboriginalpeoplecookedfood.Theremainsofahearthareusuallyidentifiablebythepresenceofcharcoaland sometimesclayballs(likebrickfragments)andhearthstones.Remainsofburntboneorshell aresometimespreservedwithinahearth.

Holocene, recentorpostglacialperiod:The timefrom theend ofthePleistoceneIceAge(c.10,300 BP)tothepresentday.

Insitu: Adescriptionofanyculturalmaterialthatlies undisturbedinitsoriginal point of deposition.

Land System: Description for an area of land based on an assessment of a series of environmentalcharacteristicsincludinggeology,geomorphology,climate,soilsandvegetation

Midden:Shellmiddensvary widelyinsizecompositionandcomplexity.Depositsvaryin complexity,theyrangefrombeinghomogenoustofinelystratifieddeposits.Materialwhich maybefoundinmiddensincludesdifferentshellspecies,stoneartefacts,hearthsandanimal bones.

Quarry(stone/ochresource):Aplace wherestoneorochreisexposedandhasbeenextractedbyAboriginalpeople.Therocktypesmostcommonlyquarriedforartefact

manufactureinVictoria includesilcrete,quartz,quartzite,chertandfine-grainedvolcanics such asgreenstone.

Quartz:Amineralcomposedofsilicawithanirregularfracturepattern.Quartzusedinartefactmanufactureisgenerallysemi-translucent,althoughitvariesfrommilkywhitetoglassy.Glassyquartzcanbeusedforconchoidalflaking,butpoorerqualitymaterialismorecommonlyused forblockfracturingtechniques.Quartzcanbederivedfromwaterwornpebble,crystallineorvein.

Pleistocene:ThedatesforthebeginningandendofthePleistocenegenerallycorrespondwith thelastIceAge.Thatisfrom3.5to1.3millionyearsago.Theperiodendswiththegradual retreatoftheicesheets,whichreachedtheirpresentconditionsaround10,300BP.

Pre-contact:Beforecontactwithnon-Aboriginalpeople.

Post-contact:Aftercontactwithnon-Aboriginalpeople.

Rawmaterial:Organicorinorganicmatterthathasnotbeenprocessedbypeople.

RegisteredAboriginalCulturalHeritagePlaces:TheseareAboriginalsitesregisteredontheVictorianAboriginalHeritageRegister(VAHR).

Regolith:Themantleofunconsolidatedsoil/sediments/weatheredrockmaterialsformingthesurfaceofthelandthat restsupon thebedrock.

Scarredtrees:Aboriginalderivedscarsaredistinctfromnaturallyoccurringscarsbytheiroval orsymmetricalshapeandoccasionalpresenceofsteel,ormorerarely,stoneaxemarksonthescar'ssurface.Othertypesofscarringincludetoeholdscutinthetrunksorbranchesoftreesforclimbingpurposesandremovalofbarktoindicatethepresenceofburialsinthearea. Generally,scarsoccur onRiverredgums(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)or grey box (E.microcarpa) trees.Riverredgumsareusuallyfoundalongthemarginsofrivers,creeksandswampswith greyboxonnearandfarfloodplains.Sizeandshapeofthescardependedontheuseforwhich thebarkwasintended.Forexample,barkwasusedforavarietyofdishesandcontainers,shields,canoes

and constructionofhuts.

Significance:Theimportanceofaheritageplaceorplaceforaesthetic,historic,scientificorsocialvaluesforpast, presentorfuturegenerations.

Silcrete:Soil,clayorsandsedimentsthathavesilicifiedunderbasaltthroughgroundwaterpercolation.Itrangesintexturefromveryfinegrainedtocoarsegrained.Atoneextremeitis cryptocrystallinewithveryfewclasts.Itgenerallyhascharacteristicyellowstreaksoftitaniumoxidethatoccurwithinagreyandlesscommonlyreddishbackground.Usedforflakedstoneartefacts.

Spit:Referstoanarbitrarilydefinedstrataofsoilremovedduringexcavation.

Stratification:The wayinwhichsoilformsinlayers.

Stratifieddeposit:Material thathasbeenlaiddown,overtime,indistinguishablelayers.

Stratigraphy:Thestudyofsoilstratification(layers)anddeposition.

StoneArtefact:Apieceofstonethathasbeenformedby Aboriginalpeopletobeusedasatool orisaby-productofAboriginalstonetoolmanufacturingactivities.Stoneartefactscanbeflaked suchaspointsandscrapersor groundsuchasaxesandgrindingstones.

Tool:Astoneflakethathasundergonesecondaryflakingorretouch.

Transect:Afixedpathalongwhichoneexcavatesorrecords archaeologicalremains.

VictorianAboriginalHeritageRegister:AlistofallregisteredAboriginalculturalheritageplaces(AboriginalPlaces)in Victoria.

Visibility: Referstothe degreetowhichthesurfaceofthe groundcanbeobserved. This maybeinfluencedbynaturalprocessessuchaswinderosionorthecharacterofthenativevegetation, andby landusepractices, suchasploughingorgrading. Itis generallyexpressedintermsofthepercentageofthegroundsurfacevisibleforanobserveronfoot.

REFERENCES

AboriginalAffairsVictoria1997GuidelinesforConductingandReportinguponArchaeologicalSurveysin Victoria. AAV,Melbourne.

Mulvaney,DJ1975ThePrehistory of Australia. Harmondsworth,Penguin. Holdaway, SNStern

2004ARecordin Stone:the Study ofAustralia’sFlakedStone Artefacts.

MuseumVictoriaandAboriginal Studies Press,AustralianInstitute of Aboriginal andTorresStrait Islander Studies, Canberra.