Discussions with Mick Dalton, Arborist, City of Maribyrnong Parks and Gardens, led to the identification of two further areas of reduced disturbance within the study area. Mick Dalton indicated that there were two stretches of the Maribyrnong River which might still feature remnant red gums. As these areas might feature an Aboriginal scarred tree, they were included for further survey. These areas are:
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The City of Maribyrnong also alerted the consultant to a possible scarred tree which had been located by a local resident in Sandford Grove Park, Yarraville. This park was also included in the ground survey to investigate the tree further. This area is:
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Sandford Grove Park, Yarraville.
4.7Summary
As a result of the Aboriginal archaeological site prediction model developed for the City of Maribyrnong, the following areas are regarded as being minimally disturbed, or otherwise identified as needing further survey. The following areas will be included in the ground survey for this project:
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Undisturbed sections of Stony Creek
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Maribyrnong River valley from Braybrook to Maribyrnong, including the following specific areas:
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Cranwell Park
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Medway Golf Club
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Maribyrnong Explosives Factory, particularly the escarpment and banks of the river, which are believed to have outcrops of silcrete, and the hill to the east of the horse stables (Allom Lovell and Associates 1998: 5).
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Maribyrnong River alluvial terraces, hill slope and top of escarpment where not developed by housing from the edge of escarpment south for approximately 100 metres, depending on degree of disturbance.
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The swampy flood plain below the escarpment in areas not disturbed by construction of Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West.
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Footscray Park, excepting the flat below the park, and undisturbed sections of Newell’s Paddock.
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Bank of the Maribyrnong River between Londrew Court and Raleigh Road, Maribyrnong.
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Bank of the Maribyrnong River between Bunbury Street and Youell Street, Footscray.
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Sandford Grove Park, Yarraville.
The former Maribyrnong Explosives Factory was surveyed at a later date, during November 1999. This was because the land is still owned by the Commonwealth, and it was necessary to obtain security clearances to enter the base. It was not possible to gain access to the EFM Factory which lies south of the former explosives factory and north of Cordite Avenue. This factory is still operational and public access is not allowed. The area of the factory which was surveyed is shown in Figure 2 and the results of the former explosives factory survey are contained in Appendix 4.
5.0ABORIGINAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUND SURVEY METHODOLOGY 5.1Introduction
It was not possible to examine the entire City of Maribyrnong for Aboriginal archaeological sites, firstly because of the time constraints on the project, and secondly because some archaeological material may be buried beneath the ground surface and is therefore not visible to surface survey. The areas selected for ground survey therefore comprised those areas identified during the site prediction model as being of minimal disturbance, as these areas are therefore most likely to feature intact Aboriginal archaeological sites (see Figure 2 and Section 4.7).
5.2Methodology
During the ground survey, each of the areas identified during the site prediction model as having minimal disturbance were examined. Detailed notes were made of each survey area on its location, landform features, size, ground surface visibility, presence and extent of erosion, degree of disturbance and other relevant observations. Photographs of each site were taken.
Aboriginal archaeological sites were defined in accordance with Aboriginal Affairs Victoria guidelines (Aboriginal Affairs Victoria 1993). Each archaeological site located during the survey involved the recording of the following features: locational information (including site plan sketch and boundaries), environmental information (land system, topography, landform, distance to water, vegetative cover and type), and archaeological information (site type, site description, site contents, preservation and stratigraphy). Attributes were not recorded for the stone artefacts found in each site due to time constraints. Scarred trees were to be assessed and recorded in accordance with the existing Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Site Register card for scarred trees.
Access to property was organised in consultation with the City of Maribyrnong and the Commonwealth of Australia in the case of the former Maribyrnong Explosives Factory.
As outlined in Section 2.1, The City of Maribyrnong lies within the boundaries of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Inc. area, and within the ‘Melbourne’ region as defined by the recent Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Cultural Heritage Program.
Prior to the survey being undertaken, Mr Bill Nicholson Snr. Of the Wurundjeri was again contacted to discuss which community representatives would participate in the survey. It was decided that Ms Tammy Hunter and Ms Odetta Webb would participate as representatives of the Wurundjeri. Mr Brian Powell, Cultural Heritage Protection Officer-Sites, at the Kulin Nations Cultural Heritage Organisation, was also contacted prior to the survey, and attended on the second day of the survey.
Ms. Doreen Garvey participated as the Wurundjeri representative in the later survey of the former Maribyrnong Explosives Factory.
A Form D Notification of Intent to Conduct a Survey was submitted to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria on 9 June 1999.
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