What began as routine metro works in Sydney has turned into a time capsule, unearthing Prosper de Mestre’s forgotten story through coins, bottles, and even bullets buried beneath George Street.
A small lane in Australia, named De Mestre Place, stands as a tribute to the French-born prominent merchant and businessman Prosper de Mestre. He arrived in Sydney in 1818 as a 25-year-old and stayed in the country till his death in 1844.
During his time in Sydney, he purchased a property on George Street in 1821. Here, he lived with his family till 1838 and also had a counting house. The building was sold along with his other properties in 1844. Over time, the property on George Street lost its significance and remained forgotten until 2025.
An excavation team working on the Hunter Street metro station uncovered several artifacts tracing back to the 1800s. The timeline of the artefacts matches the period when Prosper de Mestre and his family occupied this property. The finds include sandstock brick footings from the 1820s to 1840s, a 1834 coin, glass bottles, slate pencils, and glass beads. Interestingly, the finds also include gun flint and bullet shells, which may have belonged to the old Military Barracks situated opposite the site.
The researchers believe the site was a military dump in the late 18th century and may have evolved into a built-up area in the early 19th century. The artefacts are being preserved to protect the history of Sydney and pass it down to future generations. This instance proves how infrastructure work on sites with a long history can yield important evidence from the past.
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