The site has been continuously occupied by the police since the gold rush days of the early 1850s when it was set aside as the Commissioner's Camp, government headquarters on the new goldfield. It is now being redeveloped by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, and five weeks have been set aside for archaeological excavation. The team of archaeology students from La Trobe University, led by staff from Godden Mackay Logan, have so far uncovered the remains of the original bluestone morgue on the site, the police stables dating to the 1860s, and a sequence of later buildings. The project has been closely followed by the local community, including students from several high schools who have produced their own web sites on the excavations. High school teachers from all around Victoria have also had the opportunity to visit the site in a series of programs organised by Heritage Victoria.
Backhoes demolish standing buildings while archaeologists excavate the older remains below.
Bluestone foundations of the old police morgue. A later ditch dug from a higher level is filled with yellow clay. La Trobe students excavate the remains of the police stables dating to the 1860s. Recording the sequence of deposits. A selection of finds from the site.