Incredible relic uncovered during Sydney Metro construction
What could be Australia’s oldest boat has been discovered in an inner-city suburb of Sydney.
The amazing relic, believed to have been made in the 1830s, was revealed at Barangaroo during excavation work for the Sydney Metro.
“It’s always a surprise when you find something like this,” excavation director Dr Mary Casey said.
“No one else has found a boat in Darling Harbour.”
It is the oldest known example of an Australian-built, small European-style timber boat that once moved around Sydney.
“It’s like a ute, so it would have worked in the harbour but it also would have gone along the coast and up the coast,” Dr Casey said.
The discovery was made on land next to Cuthbert’s shipping yard, once owned by convict William Langford – who was banished to Australia after stealing pork from the docks of London.
After serving a seven year sentence he went on to bigger and better things – building boats in the heart of Sydney.
His great-great-granddaughter Lorraine Lux said: “We’re very proud of the heritage that we have. It is part of the social history of Sydney that he was a convict and he did do well.”
The discovery was made about a month ago just after a seawall from the 1860s was uncovered.
It’s since been reburied in sand to preserve the timber while its final destination is being decided.
