FREMANTLE PRISON, KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND
EXCAVATION RESULTS

for

Philip Griffiths Architects and Fremantle Prison
August 2011

Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting, UWA

Fremantle Prison, Knutsford Street Pedestrian Ramp: Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief Results,
August 2011.

eureka archaeological research and consulting

Dr Vicky Winton
Acting Director
Archaeology M405
University of Western Australia
35 Stirling HWY
Crawley WA 6009
p: +61 (08) 6488 2860
f: +61 (08) 6488 1023:
e: eureka-archaeology@uwa.edu.au

Copyright
This report and the information it contains is subject to copyright and may not be copied in whole orpart without written consent of Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting UWA.

Disclaimer
Eureka archaeological research and consulting is not responsible for omissions andinconsistencies that may result from information not available at the time this report was prepared.

AuthorJane Fyfe

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TABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 4
BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 4
PROJECT AIMS ............................................................................................................................... 8
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND EXCAVATIONS .................................................. 9
PESONNEL .................................................................................................................................. 9
METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. 9
RESULTS ................................................................................................................................... 10
Exposed ramp surface: southern section .............................................................................. 10
Exposed ramp surface: northern section ............................................................................... 12
INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION ...................................................................................... 16
RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................. 17
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 18

LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1. PLAN OF FREMANTLE PRISON IN 1856, WITH EXISTING RAMP SHADED IN GREEN. .................... 6
FIGURE 2: PLAN SHOWING EXPOSED SECTION OF LIMESTONE SURFACE ON KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP,
FREMANTLE PRISON ................................................................................................................. 11
FIGURE 3: HARRIS MATRIX FOR SLOT EXCAVATED THROUGH NORTHERN SECTION OF EXPOSED RAMP
SURFACE ................................................................................................................................. 14
FIGURE 4: EAST SECTION DRAWING, EXCAVATED SLOT, KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP ............................ 14
FIGURE 5: NORTH SECTION DRAWING, EXCAVATED SLOT, KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP ......................... 15

LIST OF TABLESTABLE 1: SUMMARY OF KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF FREMANTLE PRISON.......................................... 5

LIST OF PLATESPLATE 1: OBLIQUE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF FREMANTLE PRISON, VIEW EAST (GORE 1935). THE ARROWOVERLIES THE KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP, WHICH RUNS IN A NORTH / SOUTH DIRECTION. .............. 4
PLATE 2: GOOGLE EARTH IMAGE SHOWING EXISTING KNUTSFORD STREET RAMP AND LOCATIONS OFPARTS OF THE ORIGINAL LIMESTONE PATHWAY EXPOSED. ............................................................. 6
PLATE 3: NORTHERN EDGE OF EXPOSED LIMESTONE SURFACE AT NORTH END OF KNUTSFORD STREETRAMP ...................................................................................................................................... 13

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INTRODUCTION
This report details the results of an archaeological watching brief and excavation that was conducted by
Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting UWA (Eureka) at the Knutsford Street Ramp, Fremantle
Prison in June 2011.

BACKGROUND
Fremantle Prison is located in the City of Fremantle, Western Australia, and was constructed between 1852
and 1859. Upon its construction it was utilised as a public works prison, convict distribution depot, convict
workshop and the main site of Imperial convict administration in Western Australia. The site was designed
by Captain Henderson, Comptroller General of the Swan River Colony, and was located on a raised coastal
limestone scarp, clearly visible from the sea. This imposing limestone building dominated the town ofFremantle in the early nineteenth century. The prison complex is bound by the present-day street system of
Hampton Road, Fothergill Street, Knutsford Street and The Terrace (Plate 1). The complex occupies 4.86
hectares of land, and 23 substantial extant structures existed within the perimeter walls at the time of its
closure as a prison in 1991 (Bavin 1990). The Fremantle Prison complex is a World Heritage Site withmultiple uses including as a tourist destination, museum and function venue. Previous archaeological work
undertaken by Eureka at Fremantle Prison includes watching briefs and assessments of features exposed
during development work (such as the renovation of Number 14, The Terrace in 2009 / 2010) andarchaeological assessments made in the context of proposed re-developments (such as the Prison parade
ground and visitor centre’s café in 2009). A detailed historical background to the Fremantle Prison complex
is provided in Eureka’s prison parade ground excavation report (Burke et al. 2009), with a summary of key
historical dates provided in Table 1 below.
Plate 1: Oblique aerial photograph of Fremantle Prison, view East (Gore 1935). The arrowoverlies the Knutsford Street ramp, which runs in a north / south direction.

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Table 1: Summary of key dates in the history of Fremantle Prison
Event

Date

Construction began on an Imperial Convict Establishment

1852

First convict occupation of the prison

1855

Cessation of convict transportation to Western Australia

1868

Imperial Convict Establishment is renamed Fremantle Prison

1867

Transfer of prison management to colonial government

1886

First female prisoners

1886

Use as a military gaol and internment centre during both World Wars

World War I and World War II

Female prisoners moved out of Fremantle Prison

1970

Fremantle Prison closed as a prison

30 November 1991

Establishment of Fremantle Prison Trust

1992

Fremantle Prison becomes a tourist attraction

1992

Fremantle Prison attains World Heritage Listing with other Australian convict-era
heritage sites

2010

Fremantle Prison is listed on a number of local, State and federal heritage registers, including the Register of
Heritage Places, National Heritage Register, Register of the National Estate, City of Fremantle – Municipal
Heritage Inventory and the National Trust of Western Australia. The Prison is also part of a consortium ofconvict-era heritage sites which attained World Heritage listing in 2010.
At its western approach, Fremantle Prison has a terrace of stone buildings that form the public façade.
These buildings, either side of the main gate house, comprised the original accommodation for the seniorprison officers The Terrace is bordered by a steeply inclined grassed area with a retaining wall at the west,
below which is the pedestrian access ramp from the City of Fremantle’s Parry Street Car Park; running northto south, from Knutsford Street (north) on a gentle incline to the crest of the hill (south) in front of the main
entrance to the prison at Fairbairn Street / Fothergill Street (Figure 1 and Plate 2).

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Figure 1. Plan of Fremantle Prison in 1856, with existing ramp shaded in green.

Plate 2: Google Earth image showing existing Knutsford Street Ramp and locations of parts of
the original limestone pathway exposed.

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Building development works are continuing in the Fremantle Prison heritage precinct to improve functionalityof the space and enhance and conserve the site’s historical integrity.
As part of the ongoing development, plans for upgrades to public access to the Prison were made, and theresurfacing of the ramp from Knutsford Street was proposed in 2011. Fremantle Prison reviewed earlier
archaeological reports focussing on the management of features outside the main prison complex, inparticular the Knutsford Street Ramp (McIlroy 1990; Burke 2009). These reports highlight the significance ofthe original crushed limestone ramp as an important surviving element of the early convict establishment,
and recommend monitoring of any ground disturbing work with the potential to impact upon the original ramp
surface, estimated to be 500-1000mm below the present ground surface.
Following this advice, Philip Griffiths Architects planned to remove 100mm from the existing ramp surface
using a Bobcat. A new surface of bitumen stabilised fill, compacted with a 2.5 tonne roller and topped withfine limestone (in keeping with the aesthetics of the complex), would then be laid. Philip Griffiths Architects
engaged Eureka to undertake a watching brief on the excavation of the ramp, to begin on Monday 20 June
2011.
Contrary to expectations, the original compacted limestone ramp surface was identified less than 100mm
below the existing ground surface at the northern end of the ramp. On the slope 40 metres to the south of
the footpath kerb at the northern end of the ramp, the original ramp surface was identified at a depth ofapproximately 100mm (Plate 3).
Work was stopped in these areas, and continued across the remainder of the ramp under close monitoringby an archaeologist. No further sections of the original ramp surface were revealed during the removal of
100mm of material, although in places occasional limestone fragments ( <50mm in size) were observed
amongst blue metal fill, suggesting either previous disturbance to the original crushed limestone surface, orthat limestone rubble was mixed with blue metal to form the later surface.
Following discussion with Philip Griffiths Architects, Bill Bowker and Bevan Bevis (Fremantle Prison) and
Kate Morse (Eureka) it was agreed that the southern section of the original ramp surface would be
photographed and planned, then covered with stabilised soil to protect it from further damage resulting fromexposure to rain and pedestrian activity. It was also agreed that the northern part of the ramp surface would
be cleared by the archaeologist to determine the extent of the crushed limestone surface. When the extent
of the surface was established it was decided that the entire section would be exposed and recorded before
being preserved by reburying it. The archaeological records of the original ramp surface will be incorporated
into future management planning strategies.

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PROJECT AIMS
The aim of the archaeological watching brief was to ensure that the removal of 100mm from the surface ofthe Knutsford Street Ramp was conducted in a controlled fashion, with minimum impact to any underlying
archaeological features. Following the discovery of parts of the original crushed limestone ramp surface,and after consultation with Philip Griffiths Architects and the Fremantle Prison management, the watchingbrief evolved into an archaeological excavation. The principal aims of the excavation were to:archaeologically record two sections of the crushed limestone ramp surface, exposed and identified
during the watching brief;determine and record in detail the extent of the northern section of exposed crushed limestone
surface;

determine the depth of the crushed limestone surface and identify the surface onto which it was laid
down;



package all cultural materials recovered during the monitoring and excavation for future analysis;and

produce a short report detailing the work undertaken, that can be used in future management andplanning of the archaeological resource at Fremantle Prison.

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AND EXCAVATIONSPESONNEL
Team Member

Position

Institution

Jane Fyfe

Archaeologist

EurekaJeremy Ash

Senior Archaeologist

EurekaDr Kate Morse

Director

EurekaBen Riley

Bobcat Operator

Cpd Group

METHODOLOGYThe Knutsford Street Ramp is approximately 100m long (north/south) and ranges in width from the retaining
wall to the edge of the garden beds between 11m to 5.6m. The archaeological Watching Brief was
conducted by Jane Fyfe, with ongoing consultation with Kate Morse. Following an initial inspection of theramp and in discussion with the Bobcat operator, it was agreed that the ramp surface would be scraped in
two 50mm increments, and that the archaeologist would signal for cessation of the work.
Following the identification of sections of the crushed limestone ramp surface, archaeological excavation
was initially undertaken using trowels and brushes. All subsequent excavation of the exposed southern
section of ramp surface was conducted in this way. This section of the ramp was photographed and planned
using the corner of the Knutsford Street wall / staircase as the datum point, with a baseline along theretaining wall to the east.
Initially, the exposed northern section of ramp surface was also excavated using trowels and brushes. Thiswas completed on the first day, exposing a substantial area of the crushed limestone surface. The east andwest parallel borders of a pathway were visible, as was the north/south extent of the intact surface, atapproximately 100mm depth. The remainder of the pathway was uncovered using hand shovels, trowels,brushes and a yard broom. The exposed surface was photographed and a baseline plan drawn and levels
recorded from a datum point located on the northeast corner of the second brick step, where it meets theretaining wall, at 7° and 15.8m from the point of measurement.
A rectangular slot was also excavated at the western border of the limestone pathway. The slot measured
approximately 550mm x 430mm and commenced at 177mm to 595mm depth below the datum point in thesoutheast corner (a total depth of 418mm). The slot was excavated stratigraphically, photographed and theeast and north sections were drawn. A Harris Matrix was completed to show the relationship of thestratigraphic layers (Figure 3).

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Bulk samples of the excavated material were retained for future analysis. Artefacts and other cultural
materials were collected from the top of the ramp surface, the layer above the exposed northern section, theexcavation along the borders of the exposed northern section and the excavated slot. Samples werelabelled according to location, date and context but not sorted or classified; this could be part of a future
study by archaeology students or Prison curatorial staff.

RESULTS
Exposed ramp surface: southern section
The crushed limestone surface that was exposed on the Knutsford Street Ramp was highly deteriorated(Figure 2). The surface comprises patchy and crumbling pieces of limestone interspersed with medium grey
soil and porous crumbling pieces of brick. Only three small pieces of brick were observed in this limestone
surface. Also present were eight pieces of freshly broken slate, ranging from 30mm to 40mm in length; thebreakage was the result of the initial scraping of the surface by the Bobcat. The slate was left in situ.
The surface was photographed, planned and covered with 50mm of a stabilised soil mixture. The plan was
drawn using fixed features as reference points – i.e. measurements were taken from the corner of theretaining wall and the exterior wall on Knutsford Street. A baseline, running from 64.41m to 75m from thispoint was used and is shown in Figure 2. The process of recovering the limestone surface was closely
monitored to ensure that the machinery did not impact upon the archaeology. The recovered ramp surface
was not compacted with the roller at this stage.

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Figure 2: Plan showing exposed section of limestone surface on Knutsford Street Ramp,
Fremantle Prison

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Exposed ramp surface: northern section
At a depth of approximately 120mm the Bobcat uncovered a compacted limestone surface with small to
medium sized limestone cobble inclusions. At two locations within the exposed surface, porous,
crumbling brick fragments were noted. This compact surface that is likely to be the limestone ramp
surface identified in earlier historical and archaeological research (McIlroy 1990; Burke 2009). Further
excavation revealed that the surface, or pathway, has well-defined edges. At the southern end of thissection of pathway, its eastern edge was found to be 30-40mm deeper than elsewhere, illustrating that itwas not an even surface. This was confirmed when levels were taken and the variation from the northend to the south averaged 147mm.

On 27 June 2011 further archaeological work was undertaken to reveal the full extent of the limestone
surface, its thickness and the surface on which it was laid. A slot measuring approximately 550mm x
430mm was excavated approximately 3m along the western edge of the exposed surface. At its northernend, the edge of the surface was found to be uneven, suggesting that the original edge may have beendamaged by traffic, water erosion or during later construction works (Plate 3). However, whilst the edge
appeared to be truncated, it was relatively even horizontally, with a variation of less than 70mm between
the east and west borders.

The eastern edge of the surface initially appeared to be well-defined and straight, but further excavation
revealed less compact limestone continuing towards the retaining wall, approximately 20mm below theeastern edge. This continued for almost four metres of the eastern side of the surface. A 400mm section
was excavated up to the retaining wall, exposing a mixed, uneven, loosely compacted deposit of small
cobble sized pieces of limestone and a smooth sided brick fragment. The brick showed little deteriorationand maintained a sharp corner and smooth exposed surface.

The nature of the deposit was characteristic of a loose rubble fill that may have been laid to assist
drainage, perhaps when the retaining wall was constructed.

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Plate 3: Northern edge of exposed limestone surface at north end of Knutsford Street Ramp

At its southern end the limestone surface was less well preserved, particularly on the western side where
the garden beds and car park are located, where it was characterised by smaller limestone cobbles in a
crumbly soil matrix. At the south-eastern side of the pathway the hard, compact surface continued, and islikely to extend beneath a layer of blue metal to the south and continue up slope along the ramp.

The western edge of the limestone surface was well defined and follows a straight line for more than six
metres. For this reason, the test slot was excavated along this edge. Initial investigations at the northernend of the surface indicated a depth of approximately 120mm.

The rectangular test slot measured approximately 550mm x 430mm and was excavated to a depth of
450mm. The limestone surface was found to range in depth from 200mm to 260mm and overlay a layerof compact yellowish white sand with limestone inclusions (Figure 4). The area to the west comprised
more mixed deposits, with the intrusion of topsoil from the garden beds (context #3), and a thin humic
layer (context #4) above the same compact yellowish white sand found under the limestone surface. In
addition, a probable cut and fill (context #5) was sealed by this layer, suggesting further cultural activity
prior to this possible foundation layer (Figure 5).

Inspection of the exposed surface after rain showed a flat, compact, well drained surface made up of
medium sized limestone cobbles with well defined edges on the east and west (Plate 3).
The small number of artefacts recovered during the excavation were collected, bagged and labelled. They
were not sorted or classified and no analysis has been undertaken, although there is no evidence to suggest
particular cultural connections, other than a few pieces of roofing slate suggesting colonial architectural use.

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Figure 3: Harris Matrix for slot excavated through northern section of exposed ramp surface

3

1

4
2

5

Figure 4: East section drawing, excavated slot, Knutsford Street Ramp

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Figure 5: North section drawing, excavated slot, Knutsford Street Ramp

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INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION
The nature of this watching brief and subsequent test excavation provided limited scope for thorougharchaeological investigation and interpretation. The principal conclusion that can be drawn is the existenceof sections of a compacted limestone pathway below the existing overburden.
The limestone surface is between 200-250mm thick and indicates a substantial construction similar to thatused in tracks throughout the prison complex and recorded by other archaeological excavations (Burke,
Paterson & Fleming 2009). The layer below the surface is typical of levelling, or foundation layers observedin excavations in other parts of the Fremantle Prison complex, most recently on the south lawn of theChaplain’s House at 8 The Terrace, for which the depth has not yet been determined (Eureka 2011).
The thickness of the limestone layer and the probable levelling layer below suggests that this pathway wasconstructed using similar techniques to other structures within the Prison complex, identified as having been
designed by the Royal Engineers and constructed by convicts. Consequently it is likely that the exposed
limestone surface is the original ramp pathway constructed by convicts, possibly as early as 1864, where alimestone path is visible in a water colour by Thomas Henry Johnson Browne, or 1859 in a watercolour byHenry Wray (Burke 2009).
The likely continuation of the surface on the eastern side, parallel with the retaining wall, suggests that there
may be substantially more of the pathway intact beneath the overburden.
As an integral part of the early colonial architecture and the Fremantle Prison complex, the existence of an
intact, convict constructed limestone pathway is highly significant. That fact that this is closer to the groundsurface than suggested in earlier archaeological work (McIllroy 1990) suggests that either the ramp has been
substantially deteriorating (weather, storm damage and continued use over 21 years) or that the area inwhich the archaeologist identified crushed limestone at 500-1000mm was actually the levelling layer shownin Figure 4, and that the pathway had been demolished at that location. The proximity of the pathway to thesurface of the ramp further reinforces Burke’s advice of 2009 that ‘Care should be [taken] to avoid disturbing[the surface] as much as possible’ (Burke 2009).

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RECOMMENDATIONSThe exposed section of limestone pathway should be covered with stabilised soil mixture to adepth of 100mm and compacted to protect and conserve it pending further discussion andinvestigation.



The results of this report should be incorporated into an Archaeological Management Plan (AMP)
for Fremantle Prison.

A suitably qualified and experienced archaeologist should be involved in the planning for any
development at and around the Prison complex prior to that work being undertaken, and involved
in monitoring any ground disturbance works.

Where archaeological features or deposits are uncovered during monitoring or construction
works, work must cease and an archaeologist must assess the significance of the findings anddetermine the best course of management. Provision for this, costs involved and contractual
variation with architects and building/construction companies should be built into any
development contracts to provide for the conservation and integrity of the Prison complex in viewof its significance to Western Australia, Australia’s colonial and convict history and its World
Heritage listing.



Care must be made to ensure that development design does not have an adverse impact on thesignificant heritage values of the Fremantle Prison complex as a whole.

Consultation with the Heritage Council of Western Australia must be undertaken as part of theplanning process associated with the redevelopment of the Fremantle Prison complex, as part of
the Heritage Act of Western Australia 1990.

Further archaeological investigation of the northern section of the Knutsford Street Ramp andlimestone pathway be planned for the future.

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REFERENCES
Bavin, LJ 1990a, ‘Fremantle Prison Conservation and Future Use: Archaeological Zoning Plan of the Prison
Compound’, Report Prepared for Building Management Authority.
Bavin, LJ 1990b, ‘Fremantle Prison Conservation and Future Use: Archaeological Excavations of in the
Prison Compound’, Report Prepared for Building Management Authority.
Bavin, LJ 1993, The Punishment Administered: Archaeology and Penal Institutions in the Swan River
Colony, Western Australia. PhD Thesis for the Centre for Archaeology, Department of Geography.
University of Western Australia.
Burke, S, 2009 ‘Archaeological background management advice – Knutsford Street Ramp Fremantle Prison’,Letter to Guy Naylor, Philip Griffiths Architects from Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting, 24
September 2009.
Burke, S, Paterson, A & Fleming, K (Eureka Archaeological Research and Consulting UWA) 2009
‘Fremantle Prison Parade Ground Archaeological Test Excavation Results (Stage 3)’, Unpublished report for
Palassis Architects and Department of Housing and Works.
Gore, S 1935, ‘Fremantle Gaol’, Battye Library Pictorial Collection 031598PD Online Image. State Library ofWestern Australia, Perth.
McIllroy, J. 1990, Outside the Walls: Historical Archaeological Assessment of Parry Street Car Park

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