Building colonial histories: the archaeology of the Menzies Centre site, Hobart

In 2007 the excavation of a city block occupied by the Menzies Centre Research Institute on the northern fringe of Hobart CBD revealed the substantial remains of early-nineteenth-century architecture. The site was occupied by Hobart's elite for a mix of residential and commercial use from the mid-1820s to the early twentieth century. It was excavated, conserved and interpreted by team of consultant archaeologists and other specialists working closely with the site owner and the local consent authority. In this paper, we introduce the history and archaeology of the site, focusing on one of the six historic allotments: 53 Campbell Street. We then discuss the conservation and interpretation of all surviving remains below the ground floor of a multi-storey medical research and teaching facility. We reflect on the process of building colonial histories in the regulatory framework of urban planning and embedding them in the landscapes of urban renewal.