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ANALYSIS OF GLASS ARTEFACTS FROM THE EXCAVATIONS OF FIRST GOVERNMENT HOUSE, SYDNEY

BY

BRIAN EGLOFF AND JEAN SMITH

~:erifng:e ~ihraru

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Heritage and Conservation Branch Department of Planning

New South Wales Government

Heritage Resource Services AN UTECH PTY L TO

GPO BOX 4 CANBERRA ACT 2601

August 1987

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NORTii ELEVATION 1789

IIDDHH

NOR Til ELEVATION 1827

frontispiece Government House 1789 and 1827 from Conybeare, Morrison & Partners 1985 First Government House Conservation Plan: Draft. Prepared for NSW Department of Environment & Planning


preface

In this report Brian Egloff and Jean Smith discuss the glass finds from the First Government House, Sydney archaeological site. The site was excavated from 1982 to 1984 under the direction of Anne Bickford. Analysis of the archaeological materials was commissioned in April of 1987 by the Department of Environment and Planning and carried out by a team of specialists under the management of ANUTECH Pty Ltd. The objective of the study was to prepare a popular account of the archaeology of the First Government House Site.

All analyses were carried out at the same time with the stratigraphic analysis being the last report to be drafted. The stratigraphic analysis was thus able to draw upon the findings of the other studies and to modify the stratigraphic framework. As such that analysis is the prime report with respect to stratigraphic matters. It is advisable to read First Government House Site, Sydney Stratigraphic Analysis Report ' prior to consulting the other reports.

All reports are preliminary and could benefit from further analysis. This is particularly the case with the reports which deal with large quantities of materials, the ceramic and the glass studies.

Reports prepared by the team members are as follows.

First Government House Site, Sydney Stratigraphic Analysis Report, by Robyn Stocks

Report on Coins Found on First Government House Site, by Pat Boland

Conservation of artefacts, First Government House, Sydney, by Kerry Head

The First Government House Site Ceramics Assemblage: Analysis of selected levels 1788-1969, by Wendy Thorp

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Building Materials Analysis First Government House Site, Sydney, by Sue Pearson

Animal Bones from First Government House Site, Sydney by Sarah Colley

Analysis of Small Finds from the Excavations of First Government House Site, Sydney, by Alexandra Kelly

Preliminary Analysis of Clay Tobacco Pipes from the First Government House Site, Sydney, by G.C. Wilson and A. Kelly

Analysis of Glass Artefacts from the Excavations of First Government House, Sydney, by Brian Egloff and Jean Smith

Brian J Egloff, Principal Archaeologist AN UTECH


SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1 .1 The analysis team

CONTENTS

1 .2 Conservation and administration 1 .3 The scope of the analysis 1 .4 Phasing the excavation units 1 .5 The sequence of analysis 1 .6 The analysis of the Special finds 1. 7 The cleaning and repair of glass artefacts 1 . 8 Overview of analysis

SECTION 2 THE TYPOLOGY OF GLASS 2.1 Significant features of container glass, 1788 to 1900 2.3 Significant features of flat glass, 1788 to 1925

SECTION 3 THE GLASS ANALYSIS 3.1 The Main Building 3.2 Summary of glass finds from the Main Building 3.3 The South Outbuilding 3.4 Summary of glass finds from the South Outbuilding 3.5 The North Outbuilding 3.6 Summary of glass finds from the North Outbuilding 3. 7 The Stables area 3. 8 Summary of gJass finds from the Stables area

SECTION 4: RESEARCH QUESTIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

FIGURES 1. The First Government House, Sydney archaeological site 2. Glossary for the description of glass categories 3. Glossary for the description of containers 4. Glossary for the description of tablewares and closures 5. Container base profiles 6. Container rim formations

PLATES 1. "Case" Gin Bottle. Container/liquor. 2. Intact bottle. Container/soft drink 3. Beer bottle. Container/liquor 4. Chutney, pickle bottle. Container/food 5. "Codd" bottle. Container/mineral water 6. "Salad" oil bottle. Container/food 7. "Salad" or vinegar bottle. Container/food

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8. Sauce bottle. Container/food 9. Medicine bottle. Container/medicine 1 0. Same medicine bottle as in plate 9 11. Colours of glass (preceeded by colour code) 12. Colours of glass 13. "Hamilton" base fragment. Container/ soft drink

- mineral water. 14. Bottle bases. Containers/liquors 15. Rim - neck fragments. Container/liquor 16. Vitner prunts. Container/liquor 17. Neck, body and base fragments. Container/liquor 18. Rim - beck fragments. Container/liquor 19. Tableware I tumblers 20. Rim - neck fragment. Container/liquor 21. Jar closure. Container/Medical or toiletries. 22. Rim - neck fragment. Container/liquor 23. Bottle bases. Container/unknown 24. Bottle. Container/medicine 25. "Cabin" ink bottle. Container/Ink 26. Rim neck fragments. Containers/food - sauces 27. Blob top corker. Container/soft drink - mineral water 28. Bottle fragments with wire retainers.

Containers/liquor, possibly beer bottles. 29. Rim - neck fragments. Containers/liquor 30. Rim - neck fragments with closures. Containers/unidentified ___ _

possibly chemical reagent bottles.

APPENDICES 1. Recording forms used in the analysis of glass artefacts. 2. Glass as a building material

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NORTH ELEVATION 1789

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NORTII ELEVATION 1827

frontispiece Government House 1789 and 1827 (from Conybeare, Morrison & Partners 1985 First Government House Conservation Plan: Draft. Prepared for NSW Department of Environment & Planning.

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SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

The excavation of the First Government House, Sydney archaeological site

was carried out during 1983, 1984-85 and 1987 in response to a land use conflict.

At that time it was planned to erect a multistorey building on what was believed to be

the site of the first Government House. The archaeological excavations

demonstrated that substantial remains of the structures associated with the

occupation of the site by the Governor remained. That work is described in

unpublished reports by Anne Bickford (1983 and 1984). For the most part, the

excavation was limited to the very rear portion of the main residence, portions of the

North Outbuilding and South Outbuilding and the Stables area. Following the

1984-85 excavations, the site was backfilled and covered with a tar seal.

A detailed history of the site of Government House has been prepared by

Helen Proudfoot (1983) and a conservation plan was drafted by Conybeare

Morrison and Partners (1985). Analysis of the artefacts from the excavations was

based upon a research design by Anne Bickford (1985).

The following historical overview of the site is extracted from the unpublished

report compiled by Helen Proudfoot.

1788

1789

c.1794

1797

1801

1803

1808

1810

1816

1818 to 1819

1826 to 1827

1845

1845 to 1846

1846

1852

1868 to 1880

1875

construction of the Government House commenced

House completed and Governor Phillip moved in, left in

1792

verandah added

Governor Hunter arrived

drawing room added and verandah extended

mention of Government Printer in outbuilding

arrest of Governor Bligh

major additions by Governor Macquarie, including new

dinning room

Governor Macquarie intends to build new Government

House

alterations by Macquarie and building is vacant with

Governor Brisbane living for the most part at Paramatta

major repairs initiated by Governor Darling

plans of house and outbuildings drafted by Mortimer Lewis

building demolished

Bridge Street extended over site

mention of use of area as a rubbish tip

terraces along Phillip Street commenced

four 3-storey terraces built in Young Street

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1880

1899

1919

1960

1.1 The analysis team

Department of Mines occupies 3 Young Street terraces

and various small structures associated with a carter's yard

occupy the site

original Government House foundation plaque is

recovered

Two-storey corrugated iron building constructed on site to

house Public Works Department offices

Government House site marked with a memorial plaque

Analysis of artefacts from the First Government House Archaeological Site

commenced during the week of 20 April, 1987. The analysis was carried out at the

Young Street terraces by the following:

Robyn Stocks- stratigraphy

Alexandra Kelly - small finds

Grahame Wilson and Alexandra Kelly - clay pipes

Wendy Thorp (assisted by Leah McKenzie)- ceramics

Brian Egloff and Jean Smith - glass

Sue Pearson (with assistance from George Gibbons) -building

materials

1.2 Conservation and administration

Conservation requirements were dealt with by Kerry Head and administrative

details and project management by Brian Egloff. The Young Street terraces proved

to be an ideal venue for the analysis. Each specialist was provided with a separate

room, yet all activity took place on the first floor of the building. This arrangement

facilitated communication between specialists. Informal discussions were

augmented from time to time with formal meetings where each specialist discussed

progress in their respective area.

1.3 The scope of the analysis

Initially, for the purposes of the preparation of the popular report, it was

intended to analyse only those artefacts labeled as Special Finds. As the analysis

progressed it became apparent that in many cases artefacts had been assigned to

the Special Find category because the item looked interesting or because it was

intact. This biased the collection towards the more recent use of the site and

although including artefacts from the Government House occupation, that material

was not representative of the deposits as a whole. It became apparent the material

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from secure stratigraphic deposits had to be analysed to gain a reasonable impression of the site.

1.4 Phasing the excavation units

An essential aspect of the analysis was the allocation of excavation units into

discrete phases. The Site Director, Anne Bickford, who directed all excavations at

the site, including the work in 1983, 1984-85 and 1987, and Robyn Stocks, an

Assistant Director during the excavations, subdivided the site into five sectors (the

Main Building, South Outbuilding, North Outbuilding, Stables and Tin Shed) and

then grouped the units from stratigraphically secure contexts within each of those

sectors into phases, such as "Phase I- c. 1788-1789- Governor Phillip", "Phase II

possibly c. 1811 -Governor Macquarie", "Phase IV- Demolition of First Government House", etc.

The procedure involved in the phasing of the excavation units within each of

the sectors of the site was as follows. Anne Bickford and Robyn Stocks reviewed

the trench reports and made the decision as to which excavation units, recorded as

"features" during the excavation, should be included in each of the phases. Robyn

then searched through the storage rooms for the appropriate boxes. As the

excavated material had already been subdivided and bagged according to fabric, it

was relatively easy to take each component out of the boxes and give it to an

analyst. Although it was fairly straightforward, the volume of material which required

handling made the exercise time consuming. The analysts then put the bags from

each of the units in the appropriate group and commenced the analysis of the

material by phases. Any single phase could have five to twenty bags from a number

of excavation units. Not all units had material belonging to each artefact category.

This again proved to be time consuming. However, the material from the

excavations was well labelled and all storage boxes were clearly marked with the contents.

1.5 The sequence of analysis

The analysis considered the material in the following order:

1. Special Finds

2. material initially believed to be associated with the "Mining museum" (last quarter

of 19th century) but subsequently found to have a substantial component of material dating to the mid 19th century

3. South Outbuilding

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4. North Outbuilding

5. Stables

6. Main House

7. "Tin Shed" (a 20th century Public Works Department Office Building)

The analysis commenced with the Special finds and the artefacts from the

"Mining museum" and then moved on to the site sectors, starting with the South

Outbuilding and then followed the order given above. The phasing included not

only material believed to be associated with the occupation of Government House

but also material from the demolition of the buildings c.1845 and from the period

when the site is believed to have been used as a local tip. Not all analysts were

able to deal with the material from the Stables and only the ceramic analysis

included artefacts from the Tin Shed.

1.6 Analysis of the Special Finds

The phasing of the site sectors was complex and took considerable time .

While the phasing was proceeding, the analysts commenced work on the Special

Finds. This gave them the opportunity to perfect the analysis procedures on

complex materials. The reasoning behind this action was that if a system could be

developed to deal with the complexities of the Special Finds then it should be

relatively easy to treat the ordinary finds belonging to the various excavation units.

The recording of the Special Finds took a great deal of time as these artefacts had

distinctive attributes which required detailed descriptions and in many instances

particular information was available in the literature. At this stage a form was

developed to be used when recording individual specimens. Before commencing

the analysis of the artefacts from the sector phases, a recording form was designed

to deal with a number of artefact from a single unit. Although material was grouped

according to phases, the artefacts from each unit were analysed and recorded

separately. Copies of the recording forms are included in Appendix 1 of this report.

The complex problems associated with the assignment of the archaeological

units to phases, at times slowed progress to such an extent that the specialists had

completed the analysis of all available artefacts and had to await the assignment of

material from the next phases. Although this was not a major problem, it does

highlight the difficulty of working within tight time constraints. Under ideal

circumstances the site stratigraphy should be integrated and confirmed before back

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filling the site, when the information is fresh and the excavators available on site

with the deposits open for verification.

1.7 The cleaning and repair of glass artefacts

The cleaning of artefacts proved to be a problem. Although much of the

material had been cleaned, large quantities had not. This meant that some of the

glass had been washed and upon advice from the site conservator during the

excavations a large portion was not cleaned. Unfortunately, the answer to the

question of how and when to clean an artefact is not straightforward. In the past it

was a routine procedure to wash all artefacts that would hold up under that

treatment. Then archaeologists realized that information was being lost particularly

food or plant residues. During the excavation, the conservator was concerned that

the washing with water of exfoliating glass would accelerate the disintegration.

Also, if flat glass was washed the backing of mirror fragments could be easily

removed. On the other hand, dirty ceramic and glass artefacts could not be glued

together until they were clean. And although for the purposes of analysis it was not

intended to glue together all the matching pieces, it was important in selected cases

to reconstruct enough of the artefact to obtain the maximum information on form,

decoration and markings. Some cleaning was done during the analysis by

volunteers but it proved difficult to recruit enough volunteers to do all of the cleaning.

1.8 Overview of analysis

It should be stressed that, as the period allotted to the analysis was restricted

to six to eight weeks, there was no time to follow all of the procedures which are

usually employed when time is not limited. Piecing together of finds was restricted

to those instances where information would be obtained by completing a trademark

or a product name or ascertaining what type of base had which style of lip

associated with it, etc. The opportunity to search for joins in adjacent archaeological

units could not be persued.

The analysis initially considered in detail the Special Finds and then studies in

general terms a large quantity of fragmented material from a number of contexts. It

is recommended that if further work is done on the glass collection that the material

from critical features be analysed in detail.

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SECTION 2 THE TYPOLOGY OF GLASS

The typology employed is for the most part based on The Parks Canada Glass

Glossary by Jones eta/. (1985). Details of the various categories have not been

presented in this report. It is suggested that readers review The Parks Canada

Glass Glossary which presents an excellent discussion of the taxonomic system

employed in the analysis of archaeological glass. The following figures illustrate the

attributes which were discerned and employed in the classification of glass artefacts

from the First Government House, Sydney archaeological site.

Figure 2. Glossary for the description of glass categories

Figure 3. Glossary for the description of containers

Figure 4. Glossary for the description of tablewares and closures

Figure 5. Container base profiles

Figure 6. Container rim formations

Reference should also be made to Plates 11-12 of this report and the

accompanying colour code.

2.1 Significant features of container glass, 1788 to 1900

During the analysis Wendy Thorp, Anne Bickford and Warren Wickman

assisted by providing information. Putting their impressions and ours together, with

that information available in the literature, which is not necessarily specific to

Australian historical archaeology, the following picture was compiled.

The early deposits at First Government House, those positively associated with

the occupation, have a thin (relative to thick "black glass") green to olive or amber

coloured bottle glass (Plates 20 & 22). This is what one would expect given the

context and the state of glass technology at that time. Unfortunately, most of this

material cannot be dated with any precision.

It is not until the advent of the three piece moulded "black bottle" glass, as

distinct from the earlier free blown, made in the "Rickett's" mould (after 1830

according to Jones 1985; or, after 1840 according to Switzer 1974: 6) that there is a

chronological horizon marker, other than the dates provided by wine bottle prunts

(Plate 16). However, to ascertain for certain if a piece has been made in a three

piece mould either the base or the shoulder is required, preferably both (Plate 3). At

about the same time, the 1830s to 1840s, the string rim was replaced by the tooled

rim (Switzer 1974: 6). Bottles recovered from the 1865 wreck of the Bertrand in the

Missouri River have a variety of down-tooled rims. If such a variety of rim forms were

recovered from a less secure context, one would jump to the conclusion that the

deposit was mixed (Switzer 1974: Figs. 13-21 ). A similar range is found in the First

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Government House material (Plates 3, 15, 18 & 28-30). The other common rim form,

the flat champagne, remains relatively unchanged throughout the 19th century.

The next horizon is that provided by the presence of pressed ware, which

Thorp would feel is common as early as the 1850s, while Wickman would put it later,

after the American Civil War, the late 1860s. Switzer (1974: 6) believes that the

change to pressed ware in bottles such as the square medicine bottle with beveled

corners, or "French squares", took place in the North American context in the early

1860s. Pressed tableware is present, in clear glass (presumably more expensive)

and in a light green glass (presumably a cheaper ware made from a less pure

glass) in the deposits believed to post date the demolition of First Government

House (Plate 19).

By mid century, the practice of embossing in a three piece mold (according to

Wickman, embossed bottles were not common until the 1850s- Switzer states the

1860s) provides a date indicator which is relatively precise if the bottles have patent

marks, trade or manufacturers' marks (Plates 2, 6, 8, 9, 21, 23 & 27).

A particularly valuable horizon marker is the 1872-73 Codd bottle (Plate 5).

This is a soft drink container which is sealed by a spherical stopper contained within

the neck of the bottle.

Little information is published on dated archaeological deposits in Australia

and comparative collections are not available for study. The chronological key

employ~ tn the glass analysis is based on the folfowing assumptions:

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• •

•

•

•

•

Mould-blown bottles are older than mould-made bottles .

The pointal mark is rare after the 1850s (pers. comm. Warren Wickman) .

The span for dark olive "black" bottles made in the three piece mould is from

the 1830s to the 1870s (Plate 14).

By 1835, aerated waters bottles become common in light green and light blue

colours (Plate 27).

In the 1830s - 1840s pressed ware enters the scene and is there in quantity by

the late 1860s (pers. comm. Warren Wickman)(Piate 9).

Amber or brown and green or light green embossed beer bottles appear by

1860-1870.

Sauces, vinegars and pickles are common by the gold rush era circa the

1850s (Plates 4, 6, 7 and 8).

• "Hamilton bottles" (torpedo shaped with round blob rim) can be as early as

1805 - or earlier - but most likely are associated with the aerated waters trade

which commenced in Sydney in the late 1830s (Plate 13).

• Castor oil bottles are in use by the 1860s .

• Square gin bottles date to throughout the 19th century, and earlier (Plate 1 ) .

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2.2 Significant features of flat glass., 1788 -1925

With respect to the flat glass category, that employed as a building material.

eg. window glass, or in mirrors, George Gibbons has compiled a list which in part is

included as Appendix 2 of this report

SECTION 3 THE ANALYSIS

The analysis of the glass commenced during the week of 27 April, 1987 and

continued until the week of 14 June. The bulk of the analysis was carried out by

Jean Smith, a specialist employed as a member of the First Government House

analysis team. The typology was established and the writing of the report

undertaken by Brian Egloff, the Project Manager. The analysis commenced with

the compilation of library resource materials by Jean Smith. This was followed with

the analysis of the Special Finds and then the materials as outlined in Section 1.5.

This section of the report describes in very broad terms the glass artefacts from

each of the four sectors of the First Government House archaeological site; the

South Outbuilding, the North Outbuilding (both of which include elements of the

Mining Museum), the Main Building and the Stables. The distribution of artefact is

broken down into phases, which group the material from a number of "features",

each of which is derived from a specific archaeological square. Following the

description of the material from each "phase" a summary is given of the major

components and diagnostic elements of the assemblage. In order to understand the

details of the stratigraphy and the locations of the excavation units, reference should

be made to the report by Robyn Stocks.

3.1 The Main Building

The portion of the Main Building which fell within the site available for

excavation was the very back wall and verandah of Government House.

Phase I 1788-1794 Governor Phillip

diagnostic material: none.

general description: Only a few pieces of glass are assigned to this phase. These

consist of fragments of dark olive container/liquor, clear flat either window or mirror

glass, with some of the fragments being light green in colour.

Phase II 1794-1801 Governor Hunter

no material available for analysis

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Phases I to Ill 1788-1794 to Pre 1811-1818

Special Find: Special Find no. 26 from unit 38R26-5 (N-S) Fea 2, a dark olive

container/liquor base with a high push-up is assigned to this phase.

diagnostic material: none

general description: Fragments of dark olive and olive coloured containers, clear and light green flat/window glass are present.

Phase I - VIII 1788-1794 to 1845-1859

diagnostic material: An embossed light green Worchestershire sauce bottle was

recovered from Trench 40R34 Fea 18. This bottle most likely post dates 1840.

general description: The quantity of material assigned to this phase is greater than

that from the earlier phases yet it is not large. Olive and dark olive coloured

containers/liquor fragments are present as are light green and clear, possibly

container/soft drink fragments. Small fragmenj$-of clear stemware and fragments of

a light green container/toiletries were also found. The latter is from 40R32, Fea 18,

along with a Worchestershire sauce bottle fragment. The unit would appear to be mixed, as noted by the stratigrapher.

Phase IV- VII 1811-1818 to 1845-1847 diagnostic material: none

general description: green and dark olive coloured container/liquor fragments, one

piece of clear stemware and fragments of thin 1.0mm flat/window glass are present.

Phase VI 1826-1845 Governor Darling diagnostic material: none

general description: only a very few glass artefact are present including light olive

and dark olive coloured container/liquor fragments and flat window glass.

Phase VII 1845-1847 Demolition of First Government House

diagnostic material: Dark olive coloured fragment of a container/liquor with a down

tooled rim and a deep concave push-up is from unit 38R34, Fea 11. ~!though

_gene_@Jly_§JLe_al5to9..1he_materiaLappears .. Jo_.b_ELmorJLrec~nt J.b.?.i!-.~~-at as~igne.Q t~ ·-··' earlier phases it is difficult to be certain. There are light green fragments from v

--------.-~--------·-·-•c~----·-~-""" • •- •• ·----~ container/soft drink in units 40R18, Fea 5, 38 R36. Fea 35, 34R38, Fea 29, 36R22,

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Fea 3 and 28 R23, Fea 9. The latter, which the stratigrapher believes to be

disturbed also yielded an embossed light green container fragment. Two other units

belonging to this phase are suspected by the stratigrapher of being disturbed. Unit

38R23, Fea 2 which has an embossed (possible snaps) fragment and yielded a

Schweppes (?) container/soft drink (post 1885, if it is a Schweppes) fragment. In

unit 36R22, Feature 3 is a base of a dark olive container/liquor embossed on the

base IMPERIAL PINT. This artefact has not been dated.

general description: A number of excavation units have been assigned to this

phase. The general range of material is not diagnostic with the exception of the

material described above. Dark olive and olive coloured container/liquor fragments

are present, flat window glass and small amounts of clear stemware are included.

Light green coloured flat/window glass is present. A piece of etched

tableware/stemware is also present. A square sided olive coloured contained/liquor

(a "gin") is present.

Phase VIII c. 1845-1859 Site abandonment/hiatus

diagnostic material: a Lea &Perrins and Club sauce bottles from unit 38R20, Fea

4 and four bottle rims: dark olive down-tooled, two different styles; dark green

coloured down-tooled rim and a dark green coloured flat champagne lip. A dark

olive coloured container/liquor with a flared rim is from 36~ Fea 2 and an olive

coloured flat champagne rim fragment was found in 38R20, Fea 4. The window

glass from this phase is thicker than the normal1.0mm to 1.5mm flat/window glass,

being on the order of 2.5mm to 3.0mm. Unit 34R24, Fea 4 yielded a "Hamilton"

container fragment and a number of embossed sauce bottles including a sauce

closure-stopper embossed George Whiybrow. Container/soft drink

fragments came from units 38R18, Fea 4 and 38R26, Fea 2. A pink and white

fragment of tableware/vase(?) dating to 1939-45 (?)was found in unit 38R26, Fea 2.

general description: The material from this phase is substantial in quantity and

diverse in composition. Present is the common matrix of dark olive and olive

coloured container/liquor fragments. Window glass (particularly from 36R24, Fea 2)

is 2.0mm thick. Container/soft drink in light green and embossed flat sided

container fragments are also present giving the phase a post 1840-1850

appearance.

Post Phase VIII After 1859

diagnostic material: There is an enormous body of material assigned to this phase

but as much of the material post dates 1875 a complete description is not given. On

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the whole the stratigrapher's impression that these units date from 1845 to the 20th

century, or have admixtures of material from throughout that span of time is

confirmed.

Listed below are Special Finds which can be approximately dated or have an

embossed label which is intact, but dating information is not available.

40 & 38R40, Fea 6 mineral water (?)

40 & 38R30, Fea 5 container/soft drink a 'Lamont?'

container/soft drink Starkey

container/soft drink a 'Hamilton ?'

container/soft drink early 'Codd ?'

container/soft drink Ayer's Sarsparilla

38R36, Fea 17 container/soft drink Henry Barret

38R26.5.27, Fea 1 prunt VAN DEN BEAG

6R36, Fea 11 prunt VAN DEN BEAG

Bike area E/W Trench

Fea 1 container/soft drink (?)

container/toiletries

container/liquor

container/liquor-beer Tooth & Co

Unstratified

or Tooth & Co. Ltd

container/liquor

Fea 2

container/toiletries Macassar oil

possible medicine or toiletries

container/soft drink Globe

Bike area N/S Trench container/soft drink Starkey

container/sauce Lea & Perrins

38R20. 73, Fe a 3

36R24, Fea 1

36R32, Fea 1

container/soft drink Marchants

container/food Lea &Perrins

container/ink Arnold

3.2 Summary of glass finds from the Main Building

1891-1889

1882-1887

1875-1880s

1879-1889

1860-1875

1876

1877

1873-1876

1876-1906

1859-1870

1835-1888

1888-1930

1859-1870

c. 1930s

1954

1870-1920

1845-1890s

1909>

1840-1890s

1840> (?)

Of the 61 Special Finds from the Main Building, 47 are from units ascribed to

mixed contexts dating from 1845 to the 20th century. Twelve Special Finds are

assigned to units dated to pre 1880 and one to Phase 1-11 and one to Phase VII. This

breakdown provides a graphic example of the problem which the glass analysis has

had to face. That being that there is very little diagnostic material from the phases

1 1

I I I I I I ~I I

il II I I

I• \I II II II II I

II II II

I, I

l·

associated with the occupation of Government House, as opposed to large

quantities from that period when the site was used as a local tip and then as a site

for the carter's yard and Public Works Department offices.

From Phase I to Phase Ill, no diagnostic material was encountered.

As noted in the discussion of each individual phase, later phases are for the

most part represented by units which are mixed in composition. This is detectable

by the presence of embossed container fragments which generally speaking post

date (on our limited knowledge) 1840-1850.

The early phases are represented by small fragments of olive and dark olive

container/liquor fragments accompanied by flat/window glass either clear or a light

green. No material was available for analysis from Phases II and Ill. Not until Phase

VII does the complexion of the deposit change. Here there is an addition of light

green bottle glass most likely from container/soft drinks. It is presumed that this

material post dates the wholesale adoption of aerated waters in Sydney, which

dates to after 1835 (Jones 1979).

By Phase VIII, circa 1845-1859, the Site abandonment/hiatus, there is the

definite introduction into the deposits of quantities of what has been interpreted as

post 1850 and possibly post 1860 materials . Particularly noticeable in this context

are the Lea & Perrins sauce bottle fragment, a fragment of a "Hamilton" bottle and a

fragment of pink and white tableware/vase(?) which is modern in composition. In

the post Phase VIII units, there is all manner of material more recent than 1875.

Particularly disappointing is the fact that the two prunt (Plate 1) from the Main

Building, from units 38R26.5.27, Fea 1 and 36R36, Fea 11, date to 1876. They both

bear the same product manufacturers mark VAN DEN BEAG & CO. This is the prunt

of an Antwerp distillers which operated from 1870 to 1880. The trademark of the

'Bell and Bow' was registered in 1876 (Morgan nd: 102 and Roycroft 1979: 14-15).

3.3 The South Outbuilding These structures are found in a central location on the far western edge of the

site. A substantial portion of the available remains were excavated

Phase 1 c. 1 788


Phase II demolition of Phase I and later construction

diagnostic material: none noted

general description: a mixed collection with no particularly strong representations.

The following are present in small quantities: container/beverage - body fragments,

1 2

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II II

I I

olive and dark olive in colour, some having an opalescent patina;

tableware/stemware; flat/mirror and flat/window circa 1.0-1.2 mm in thickness.

Phase Ill Printing press office within outbuilding (c. 1795-181 O)

diagnostic material: container/beverage, dark olive, deep concave base


The following are present in small quantities: container/beverage dark olive and

olive bottle fragments; tableware/stemware in clear glass with an impressed (?)

panel decoration. This glass is considerably finer, more like a crystal, than the

cheaper ware believed to be associated with the mining museum (Plate 19).

Flat/mirror and flat/window glass circa 1 mm in thickness was also found.

Phase IV Before 1845 (bread oven to North -east)

diagnostic material: Stemware with mould mark; container/liquor dark olive with a

shallow concave kick-up; light green pressed ware container fragment similar in

appearance to that believed to be associated with the Mining Museum deposits.

general description: a mixed collection with no particularly strong representations. The following are present in small quantities: container/beverage and

__ container/unknown in light olive, light green and opalescem o~tve; ta~re and

stemware/unidentified is also present; flat/window and mirror is generally of 1 mm thickness except for single piece 2 mm thick.

1 3

I I

I I II I I

I

I I I I I II

1

, I II r

'II II II II II II

I II II I

Possible Mining Museum connection (1876-1884)

diagnostic material: a considerable quantity of tableware/tumbler pressed ware in

clear and in light green {Plate 19); container/beverage in "Hamilton" form could date

from 1809- 1890, but most likely post 1835 aereated waters, small quantities of

recent container/beverage -"beer"; both shallow (2) and deep concave (12) bases in

dark olive, rims down tooled, flared and round in container/beverage; 2mm

flat/window glass; container/unidentified as sauce bottle, embossed, John Gosnell &

Co (1)- date not known.

Special finds: The following Special Finds were recovered from Unit 22R4, Feature

13:

no 127 container/food-salad oil (late 19th or early 20th century)

(Plate 6)

no 128 container/liquor with wire retainer

no 129 container/unidentified, base embossed with registration mark

indicating patent date of 1850 (Plate 23)

no 186 similar to no 129 but year mark is missing Plate 23)

no 187 container/unknown possible medicine or toiletries

The following Special Finds were recovered from unit 20R4, Feature 11

n<J_§_? container/food-sauce (late 19th - early 20th century) (Plate 26)

no 102 container/unidentified, light blue with stopper (Plate 26)

no 114 container/food-sauce (late 19th -early 20th century)

no 121 container/possible reagent, with clear glass stopper, dark olive

coloured glass, perhaps former beverage reused

no 122 similar to 121

no 124 similar to 121

no 648 container unidentified, possible medicine

no 649 tableware/stemware, etched with bladed knop

no 650 container/food-salad oil or vinegar (Plate 26)

no 651 container/food-sauce, closure (Plate 26)

no 652 tableware/tumbler, octagonal pressed panels

general description: a large collection with very strong representations. The

following are present in large quantities: container/beverage dark olive, olive, light

green and green; tableware/tumbler clear predominates; tableware/stemware in

clear is strongly represented. A variety of tableware of general household character

is also present. Flat glass is present in the following quantities: 6.5 mm ("plate

glass?") = 42g, 2.0 mm = 36g and 1.5 mm in 423g with 14g of mirror glass present.

1 4

I II

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Phase V- VI

The following Special Finds were recovered in Unit 16-17R4, Fea 4

no 045 flat/window

no 564 container/liquor-beer or wine

no 565 container/soft drink

no 576 container or Tableware

no 577 possible container

no 578 container/ (?)

no 579 container/unidentified

no 580 container unidentified

no 051 container/liquor

Late 19th century - pre 1920

The following Special Finds were recovered

Unit 22R6, Fea 3 no 27 tableware/stemware

no 29 tableware/tumbler

Phase V- VII

Redeposited Government House material, second half of 20th century

Unit 15R8, Fea 4 yielded a container/soft drink fragment- "Hamilton"

1922 Service pipe trench

Recovered from unit 14R1 0, Fea 8 Special Find 488, a container/beverage-liquor or

soft drink.

3.4 Summary of glass finds from the South Outbuilding finds

Phases II and Ill are similar with no particularly diagnostic material. At Phase

IV there is a change in character with what is regarded as "later'' material in

particular the dark olive basal fragment from Container/beverage with a shallow

kick-up which is interpreted as being from a "Rickett's" type mould- post dating 1830

-from unit 20R4, Fea 23. Flat/window glass in 2mm is found in small quantities with

a larger representation in the Mining Museum Phase. The overall collection of

material from the Mining Museum has been interpreted by Wendy Thorp Anne

Bickford and Warren Wickman as being household in character and dating to the

middle of the 19th century. Although the bulk of the material may be interpreted as

1 5


having a mid century date there are definite additions of more modern materials, in

particular the amber beer bottle fragments (42g from 20R4, Fea. 11) and there could

well be earlier material incorporated in the Phase.

3.5 North Outbuilding

The North Outbuilding is the complex of structures lying between the South

Outbuilding and the Main Building. A substantial proportion of this sector was

excavated.

Phase I c. 1 788-1789 Governor Phillip

diagnostic material: much of the material is consistent with this early date. Thicker

glass of 2 mm is also present.

general description: a mixed collection with the strongest representation being

container/beverage olive (Plate 15). Some dark olive is present. Also present is

tableware/stemware and flat/window glass circa 1 mm thick.

Phase II possibly c. 1811 Governor Macquarie

diagnostic material: none noted, except for the rim-neck of a dark olive

container/beverage which is more robust than the standard "black" beer bottle.


The following are present in small quantities: container/beverage in olive and light

green. The light green material could belong to aerated water bottles and date post

1835; flat/window in circa 1 mm; tableware/ unknown in clear glass.

Phases I-IV

diagnostic material: A piece of embossed clear glass from Unit 38R6-9, Fea 37 is

present. This most likely dates to post 1830 or 1840.

Phases II • Ill (IV?)

diagnostic material: none noted


The following are present in small quantities: container/beverage olive, green and

light green; flat/window glass circa 1 mm thick.

Phases III-IV possibly c. 1827 Governor Darling

1 6

I I

I I I I I I I I I I I ~·

I I I I I I I I I

diagnostic material: Four prunts of dark olive coloured glass were recovered.

Special Find 664 is marked MARGAUX MEDOC RAUIAN with a "bunch of grapes"

trade mark. This is the prunt of a bordeau wine (Amerien and Soslyn 1951 ). The

prunt is found in what is described by the stratigrapher as a "disturbed pocket of soil

in inspection cut of drain" (40R1 0, Fea 3). In Spit 2 of the fill of the cut of the drain

(40R1 0, Fea 15) two prunts were recovered. Special Find no. 40 is a Chateau

Lafitte. This is also the mark of a bordeau wine (Amerien and Soslyn 1951) as is the

other prunt, Special Find 041 SAINT JULIUEN MEDOC . Special Find 85, a JULIEN

MEDOC came from unit 36R6, Fea 12. All of the units from which these prunts

were recovered are believed to date to c. 1827. Apparently St. Julien claret in six

dozen case lots was brought on the brig Fanny and advertised for sale in the

Sydney Gazette on the 8th of December, in time for the holiday season, 1828 (after

the Bas manuscript held by the Department of Environment and Planning) (Plate

16).

Three Special Finds are recorded for this phase. That from Unit 40R1 0, Fea. 13,no

546 is a light olive coloured container/liquor with a string rim (Plate 22, refer also to

Plate 18 for range of rim treatments). The container is free blown. From Unit 38R6-

9, Fea 39, Special Find no 192 is a dark olive container/liquor with a pointal scar.

Special Find 165 from unit 38R6-9, Fea 43 is an intact small, clear glass

__ gQ_11_!_aiQ~I'/_possibly medicine with a flared lip (Plate 24). These Special Finds could

all date to the later decade of the 18th century or the very early years of the 19th

century.

general description: This is a very large collection of material consisting of:

container/beverage dark olive with down-tooled and flat "champagne" rims, the

same in olive and flat rims in opalescent and green. Beverage fragments are in all

colours with the light olive and dark olive predominating, some amber fragments are

present The later are probably part of a container/beverage with a flat champagne

rim and are not modern beer bottle fragments. Tableware is also present in

stemware. Flat window glass is present in thickness of 1.0mm, 1.5mm and 2.0mm.

1.5mm in a light green colour is more common followed by 1 .Omm. Lesser

quantities are found in a clear colour.

Phases Ill and IV silt deposit

diagnostic material: Container/liquor in green with string rim

17


general description: a small collection with no particularly strong representations;

flat/window is 1 mm thick, container/liquor in green and light olive and

tableware/unknown in clear

Phases Ill - IV (?)

diagnostic material: container/beverage olive (1) deep concave kick-up and a

similar specimen in dark olive.


The following are present: container/liquor in brown, olive, dark olive, opalescent

and light green; flat window in 1.0mm, 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm (a few fragments of each

thickness), tableware/unknown in clear, light green and amber colours.

Phase IV Possibly 1840 or earlier

diagnostic material: of the features assigned to this phase only the material from

28R6, Fea 30 is distinctive and should be regarded as a separate entity. It is

discussed later.


The following are present in small quantities: container/liquor dark olive, olive, light

olive, opalescent and green, tableware/unknown in clear and light green and

flat/window in circa 1.0mm and 1.5mm

discussion: the material from 28R6, Fea 30 is remarkably homogeneous, for the

most part consists of container/liquor dark olive with deep concave bases (55 in

number) or shallow concave (1) with down tooled rims (5), flat-'champagne" (4) -

also opalescence flat "champagne" with opalescence (1 ); container/unknown in

green and olive in small quantity; 1.5 mm flat/window (3 pieces).

Phase V Demolition of Government House 1845 - 1847

diagnostic material: the only feature with diagnostic material is 24R6, Fea, 10 which

has material incorporated in with dating to 1884-1930 (Schweppes "Hamilton"

shaped Container/soft drink) as well as other embossed items which include

products of unidentified firms and a "winged Pegasus" embossed mark. This feature

is different from the others of this phase which contain a mixture of material

described below.


Container/beverage in dark olive with down tooled rim and light olive in square

1 8

I I I I I I I I I I I

II il

I I I I I I I I

bottle "gin" container/unknown in green, light olive, light blue clear, etc. and a container/tumbler pressed with starburst on base.

Phase VI Site abandonment/hiatus- post demolition c. 1845-1860s

diagnostic material: container/liquor light green embossed and dark olive specimen with down-tooled rim


The following are present: container/liquor dark olive, green, light olive, dark olive,

opalescent; flat/window in variety of thicknesses 1.0 mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm

and 6.0mm.; tableware/unknown in a clear colour.

Phase VII Possible Mining museum connection

diagnostic material: container/liquor dark olive with mid height concave base, dark

olive 'gin', down tooled rim. 32R8, Fe a 14 contains Schweppes & Co. bottle

fragments dating to 1885 to 1930. Fragments of container/soft drink were found in

the other features. A prunt from 32R8, Fea 148, Special Find 191 is too fragmented to identify.

Special Finds:

no 461 38R12, Fea 2 fragment of a patent bottle no~64 fragment possibly of a Resch's bottle no 469 38R12, Fea 1 embossed .. London .. no 085 36R6, Fea 12 prunt Julien Medoc no 457 38R9-1 0, Fea 1 possible schnapps no 466 possible soft drink no 477 like no 466 no 460 38R6-9, Fea 1 embossed .. LERE. .. no 463 possible schnapps no 467 embossed .. THE.. no 468 embossed, possible milk bottle no 458 38R5-6, Fea 1 soft drink no 217 36R5-6, Fea 3 container/medicine-liniment (?) no 189 32R8, Fea 14 British patent mark (no date) no 204 28R6, Fea 2 possibly flaked by Aboriginal no 177 25R4, Fea 2 embossed LIVERPOOL SALT

general description: a mixed collection which has a strong representation of

container/liquor dark olive and container/soft drink light olive and light green as well

1 9

I I I I I I 'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

as modern amber bottle fragments. Flat/window glass is in all thicknesses with the

most common being 1.5mm thick

3.6 Summary of glass finds from the North Outbuilding

Phase I-IV are similar in character. Unit 28R6, Feature 30 is homogeneous in

content and different from the other features assigned to Phase IV. At Phase V -

demolition -, the deposit takes on a more recent quality and is mixed throughout with

material dating to the closing decades of the 19th century - definitely post dating the

Mining Museum, particularly the material from 32R8, Feature 14 of Phase VII

(tentatively ascribed to Mining Museum which has what is believe to be an

embossed Schweppes mark dating it to after 1885).

3. 7 The Stables area The stables are found to the south, in the western half of the site.

Phase I c. 1788-1845 construction of stables


Phase II 1845 - 1847 FGH demolition (stables demolition)

collection consists of a single piece of dark olive bottle glass

Phase Ill c. 1865-1873 McGlade's period


Phase III-IV c. 1865-1911

diagnostic material: dark olive bottle glass and flat window glass is present. It is

possible that the 2.5mm thick window glass is modern.

general description: not a particularly strong collection having no notable pieces

but having the usual assortment of container/liquor dark olive and flat/window clear

and light green fragments.

Phase IV 1870s construction of No. 39, 41 Phillip Street (c. 1877)

diagnostic material: some of the material appears to be early such as the string rims

on dark olive bottles, dark olive bottles with deep concave push up, and the

Flat/window thin glass. Other material is definitely post 1850s, in particular the

embossed wares and the pickles and sauces. Amber, assumed "beer", bottle

20


fragments of a modern vintage are present. The assemblage is consistent with what

would be expected at this date with an admixture of earlier material.

general description: the collection is rich and varied with many diagnostic pieces of

dark olive 'beer" bottles both common and champagne, with flat, string and down

tooled rims and square "gins" are present. Glass is present in a variety of

thicknesses. The assemblages vary considerably from unit to unit with the larger

assemblages tending to be more mixed in terms of presumed early material and late

wares. Also present is a part of a presumed castor oil bottle. The press moulded

clear tableware with a moulded panel appears to be like that from the Mining

museum assemblage (Plate 19).

Phases IV to VI general description: material from unit 6-8R1 0 was analysed. It is exceptionally

mixed with what are presumed early pieces such as a string rim, high concave push

ups and square "gins" which could date from any period and later pressed

containers for salad oil and pickles. Modern appearing flat/window is present.

Phase V c. late 1870s- pre 1901

diagnostic material: the collection is mixed with material which has to predate the

1870s. Unit M1 OR16, Fea 14 yielded an embossed container/liquor marked Edin &

Leith Glass Co. Other Special finds are a "dark olive coloured square "gin" bottle

from M1 OR12, Fea 16, a container/toiletries (no 479), and a dark olive

container/liquor made in a three piece mould with a cork and wire retainer and a

round rim. Special Find no 514 is from the same unit, a flat piece of embossed

glass.

general description: although most of the material could well date from this period

there is a substantial addition of earlier material such as dark olive "beer" with steep

concave push ups and "gins" which should be waining in popularity by the 1870s.

Flat glass is both thick and thin. Pressed ware, clear and light green, in containers

and tableware is present. Again the panel decoration (from M4R16, Fea 11) may be

similar to that found at the mining museum. Green and amber beer fragments

consistent with the 1870 - 1900 date are found in small quantities. The nondescript

quality of the Special Finds assigned to this Phase add little to the interpretation.

Phase VI c. 1901 - 1970

general description: similar in overall feel to Phase V material again being a mixed

lot with green, amber and "black"beer bottles, concave bases on dark olive bottles.

·' ,·'

21

I I I I I I I I I I II I

II II II II il II I

II I I I

Light green pressed glass is encountered. Only a limited number of specimens are

assigned to this phase. The three Special Finds (nos 523, 505 and 543)(Piate 7)

are consistent with the 20th century date assigned to the phase. Special Find no 90

from 22R4, Feature 6 is a dark olive colour container/liquor, which appears to be

reused, with a down-tooled rim and a ground orifice with a clear glass stopper in place.

3.8 Summary of Glass finds from the Stables area

Up until Phase IV there is no diagnostic material and what glass is present

could date from anywhere in the first three quarters of the 19th century. At and after

Phase V (c.1870s), the material is as one would expect for that date with the

addition of substantial quantities of early material in the form of dark olive glass and thin window glass.

SECTION 4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

A number of research questions are raised by Anne Bickford in the 1985

Requirements for design of research phase. The questions to be considered by the glass analysis are listed below, followed by preliminary answers.

1. Origin of imported glass vessels?

The glass containers come from a number of sources which can in come

cases be identified. Those that can be readily identified date from the later half of

the 19th century and have an English, Netherlands or United States origin. Most of

the material comes from poorly stratified contexts. The only items from the first half

of the 19th century which can be sources are the French wine bottle prunts from the North Outbuilding.

2. When does Australian made glass appear in the site?

Australian glass making did not develop until the later half of the 19th century.

For the most part material from this era is found in unstratified contexts which cannot

be associated with specific activities other than the reworking of tip rubbish.

3. Origin and content of bottles which have seals on them excavated in the fill above the Macquarie drain. What date are these seals?

The prunts (or seals) found are assigned to Phase Ill (possible c. 1827-Governor Darling).

22


Special Find 664 MARGAUX MEDOC RAUZAN, a bordeau wine.

Special Find 040 CHATEAU LAFITTE, a bordeau wine.

Special find 041 and 085 SAINT JULIEN MEDOC and JULIEN MEDOC, a bordeau

wine, advertised in Sydney in 1828.

In very general terms, in the second decade of the 19th century Margaux

Medoc Rausian is either of the first or second growth of Medoc while the Lafitte is of

the first. StJulien is of the third growth, or of lesser quality, as this is a generic term

referring to a commune of Medoc and is not attributed to a specific Chateau.

Library information on the prunts is very scanty and it would require access to

a reference collection or a well informed specialist in order to gain more specific

information. The seals as a group could date from say the 1790s to the 1860s. The

prunts represent a range of wine from the finest product of the Medoc to a lesser

quality, but yet respectable claret. Medoc is the area which produces the fine

bordeau clarets, originally a lighter red wine. St Julian is a district renown for fine

wines.

4. An analysis of the bottles and drinking glasses excavated at First Government

House and the outbuildings, to tell what they contained.

For the most part the glass recovered is from containers for liquor, soft drinks

or is a tableware. As the material from the stratified deposits is limited, no attempt

has been made to quantify this observation or depict any changes through time.

Much of the bottle glass recovered during the First Government House

excavations is from dark olive coloured thick walled bottles with double lips (a form

of down-tooled rim). Generally speaking containers of this type are referred to as

"black beer" bottles. However, Strachan (1987: 57) states that wines were

transported in "black glass" as the bottles withstood transport better than the thin

wine glass bottles, as well as protecting the wine from light. Also, "black glass"

bottles with clear ground glass fitted closures were found in material believed to

have an association with the mining museum or perhaps with the activity of the

assay office in the Department of Mines which occupied a part of the site during the

last quarter of the 19th century. These bottles have been interpreted as containers

for laboratory reagents. It is reasonable to assume that black glass containers were

used for wine, brewed beverages and laboratory reagents, and possibly soft drinks.

Soft drink containers when embossed with product or producer information are fairly

23

I I I I I I II II ~~~

II

I I I I I II

I I II II I

easy to identify. For the purposes of the analysis, thick light blue or light green

coloured bottle glass was considered to be derived from soft drink bottles. Bottles

were very much in demand during the early decades of the 19th century and reuse

is to be expected at this period as well as later.

The wreck of the Calcutta Indian ship, bound for Port Jackson, the Sydney

Cove, dating to 1797 provides information on the use of containers for liquor.

Spirits and commonly shipped in that era were English wines in bottles, Holland gin,

Jamaican and Indian rum, Porter and French champagne and English claret. The

salvage manifest of the Sydney Cove lists 7,000 gallons of spirit in casks and only

18 gallons in bottles. This consisted of 2 cases (p. 55) or 12 cases (p. 57) of gin and

brandy (Strachan 1987: 57). Fragments of champagne bottles were found at the

wreck site off Presentation Island in Bass Strait.

5. Can status patterning be inferred from the location of the drinking glass?

The amount of material is restricted but it might be possible to do a

quality/distribution analysis once the site's stratigraphy is securely known.

6. the colour of glass was usually related to function? Black bottles usually held

beer and the olive greens, wine. What is the contents of the bottles excavated at

First Government House?

The glass directly associated with the occupation of Government House was

used as containers for beverages, either brewed or vintage, some soft drink and

liquid or pill form of medication. As stated above, black bottles were used as

containers for not only beer but also for wines and possibly for holding laboratory

reagents.

7. Boxes of window glass were brought out in the First Fleet and used in the

windows of Government House. Is it possible to date glass through thickness?

As detailed in the list in Appendix 2 (from Gibbons for flat glass technology), a

significant change occurs during the span of occupation of Government House.

Prior to the 1830s, crown glass was used almost exclusively in Australia for window

glass. Following that date, cylinder glass was used. The former is formed by

opening up a globe of glass and spinning it flat while the latter involves blowing

huge cylinders of glass and cutting them open and flattening them out on a table.

Crown glass is marked by annular ridges and bubbles/imperfections which flow in a

circular pattern and is thin- as thin as 1 mm. Cylinder glass is not so easy to typify

24

I I I I ,I I

I

II

I I I I I I I I I I

II I I I

but presumably there is an increase in thickness and the annular patterns are

replaced by wavy linear patterns. We have no information which describes the

normal range of thickness for cylinder versus crown glass, both of which describes

the normal range of thickness for cylinder versus crown glass, both of which could

be expected to vary in thickness. Crown glass would vary from the central bulls-eye

where it would be thicker, to the periphery where it would be thinner. Cylinder glass

could well decrease in thickness through time as the technique was developed and

perfected.

In Australia, places such as Camden Park Estate, dating from 1834, are noted

for having larger than normal panes (Freeland 1972). The Colonial Secretaries

"cottage" in Hobart was constructed in 1818 and remodeled in 1827. During the

1827 remodeling it was noted that panes of glass 16" x 12" were available from

"Chapman", presumably a distributor in Sydney. The larger than normal size could

indicate this referred to early cylinder glass. Later than that, in the 1840s, crown

glass was placed in the front windows during construction of the officer's quarters at

Port Arthur (pers. comm. 8 Egloff). Tusculum, built in 1852-1855, has thick plate

glass in the front windows which is consistent with the fashion of the day (pers.

comm., I. Stapleton). by the 1860s, large panes of glass were common in the

house of Sydney (Pers. comm., I. Stapleton). Apparently, crown glass continued to

be used in less noticeable places in fine houses, such as the back windows and in

the outbuildings, while larger panes, presumably plate and cylinder glass were

being used in the front windows (pers. comm., I. Stapleton).

It is unfortunate that from our knowledge of the glass it is not possible to

distinguish between 1788 or 1805 wares or for that matter to be very certain that the

glass in a deposit dates to 1788 or to 1820. It might be possible to say that a deposit

dates between 1830 and 1840 or 1840 and 1860 if diagnostic pieces are present.

Once embossing becomes common, after say 1850, individual pieces can be dated

with precision.

It is apparent that after Government House was abandoned and demolished,

that the site was used for thirty or more years as an urban dump. Subsequent

building activity on the site, while not removing all trace of the Government House

foundations, has substantially altered the deposits and did introduce later material

into earlier levels and vice versa.

25


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Amerien, M. A. and M. A. Soslyn 1951 Table Wines . The University of California Press: Berkeley.

Arnold, K. 1985 Collecting Australian Found Bottles: Glass Part 1 . Crown Castleton: Maiden Gulley.

Ash, D. n.d. Dictionary of Antique Glass. Pelham Books, London.

Australian Consolidated Industries 1941 Looking Backward & Forward Through Glass. A.C.I., Sydney.

Bickerton, L. M. n.d. "Glass Bottles - the collection of a winemerchant". The Australian Antique Collection 17th edition. I.P .C. Business Press, Sydney.

Bickford, A. 1983 The Excavation of the site of the First Government House, Bridge and Phillip Streets, Sydney: A report on the first five weeks of the second excavation season, Stage /Ia, From Wednesday 15 June to Sunday 17 July 1983. Unpublished m.s.

Bickford, A., eta/ 1983 First Government House Site, Sydney Australia: A statement of significance. The Australian Archaeological Association: Canberra.

Bickford, A. 1984 First Government House Site, Sydney: A report reviewing Phase /Ia and providing recommendations for the completion of Phase /lb. Unpublished m.s.

Bickford, A. 1985 First Government House Site Project Requirements for Design of Research Phase - Phase V. Unpublished m.s.

Bickford, A. Progress report on the archaeological investigation of the First Government House Site, up to 2 October 1983 addressing certain questions posed by the Premier's Department to the Department of Environment and Planning. 1983: Unpublished m.s.

Conybeare, Morrison & Partners 1985 First Government House Conservation Plan: Draft. Prepared for NSW Department of Environment & Planning.

Davis, D. C. 1972 English Bottles & Decanters 1650-1900. Charles Letts: London.

26

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I I I

Elville, E. M. 1951 English Table Glass. Country Life: London.

Elville, E. M. n.d. The Collector's Dictionary of Glass. Country Life Limited, London.

Fletcher, E. 1976 Antique Bottles in Colour. Blandford Press: Poole.

Fletcher, E. 1976 A Bottle Collectors Guide. Latimer New Dimension: London.

I Fletcher, E. 1975 International Bottle Collectors Guide. Blandford Press: Poole.

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Frank, S. 1982 Glass and Archaeology. Academic Press, New York.

Graham, M. 1981 Australian Glass of the 19th and 20th Century. David Ell Press: Sydney.

Hedges, A. A. C. 1975 Bottles and Bottle Collecting. Shire Publications Ltd., Bucks.

Hutchison, D. n.d. Hints for the Identification of Bottles. Museum of Applied Arts and Science, New York.

____ Jeffs, J. 1973 Dictionary of World Wines. Pelham Books, London.

Jones, D. 1979 One Hundred Thirsty Years: Sydney's aerated water manufacturers from 1830 to 1930. Reliance Press: Deniliquin.

Jones, 0. and C. Sullivan 1985 The Parks Canada Glass Glossary. National Historic Parks and Sites Branch, Parks Canada: Toronto.

Knopf, Alfred 1983 The Knopf Collectors' guide to American Antique Glass , vol. 2 Bottles, Lamps and other objects. Chanticleer Press, Inc., New York.

Lattimore, C. 1979 English 19th Century Press-Moulded Glass. Barrie & Jenkins Ltd: London.

Lerk, J. A. 1971 Bottles in Collection. Cambridge Press, Bendigo.

Meigh, E. 1922 The Story of the Glass Bottle. C.E. Ramsden: Stokeon-Trent.

27

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I 'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ,I I I

Miller, G. L. and C. Sullivan 1984 "Machine-Made Glass Containers and the End of Production for Mouth-Blown Bottles". Historical Archaeology 18: 83-96.

Morgan, R. n.d. Sealed Bottles: Their history and evolution {1830-1930). Midlands Antique Bottle Publishing: Burton-on-Trent.

Morris, B. 1978 Victorian Table Glass and Ornaments. Barrie and Jenkins: London.

Munsey, C. 1970 The Illustrated Guide to Collecting Bottles. Hawthorn Books: New York.

Payton, M and G. 1976 The Observer's Book of Glass. Fredrick Warne & Co. Ltd., London.

Proh, S. n.d. Australian Bottle Collector. Bottle Collectors Review: Upper Mt. Gravatt.

Ray C. 1986 Lafite. Peter Davis: London.

Roycroft, R. and C. 1976 Australian Bottle Price Guide: No. 1. Reliance Printing and Stationary: Deniliquin.




Simon, A. L. 1961 Wines & Spirits. Charles Skilton Ltd., London.

South, S. 1977 Method and Theory in Historical Archaeology. Academic Press: New York.

Stout, S. M. 1972 The Complete Book of McKee Glass. Trojan Press: North Kansas City.

Strachan, S. 1986 "History and Archaeology of the Sydney Cove Shipwreck (1797): A resource for future site work", Occasional Papers in Prehistory 5, Department of Prehistory, The Australian National University ..

28

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

:I

Switzer, R. R. 197 4 The Bertrand Bottles: A study of 19th Century glass and ceramic containers. National Park Service, Department of Interior: Washington.

Thorpe, W. A. 1935 English Glass. Adam & Charles Black: London.

Towner, D. 1978 Creamware.. Faber and Faber, London.

29

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PIQllJP ST.

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STAUI.ES

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MAIN JIOUSE

--------- ·-- - ----- ___________ :__.., _________ ------· "

Figure 1. The First Government House, Sydney archaeological site -------.. . . .. . ·-··· ·-- ----~ -- - . - ----- - ·------~ ) I I

--'


category

subcategory

Container

food household inks/mucilage liquor medicine nursing soft drink/mineral water toiletries mise unidentified

Tableware

bowl carafe cruet/castor decanter dessert glass mug/cup pitcher plate salt and slat liner stemware

drinking glass stemmed serving vessel

tumbler mise unidentified

Closures

stoppers covers lids liners patented closures

Flat

window mirror

Lighting

no subcategories

Mise

Figure 2. Glossary of glass categories


Lips (no material added)

threaded pouring prescription rounded v-shaped flared (refer to Plate 1, gin bottle) down-tooled flat flanged

Shoulders

rounded horizontal champaigne scooped sloped down fluted

Rim (material added to for a rim) • refer to figures

string rim rounded flatened (referred to as champagne) v-shaped down tooled

Sody

flask round

2.0 em i.d. to 4.0 em o.d. are most likely for champagne - not a common type 1.8 em i.d. to 3.1 em o.d. most likely for beer or brandy- the most common type

round with flutes triangular flat octagoonal octagoonal triangular rectangular with flat chamfers square with flat comers rounded square ovoid

Base (refer to figures)

shallow concave concave pushup - shallow concave push up - mid concave pushup - deep flat

Figure 3. Glossary for the description of containers (page 1 of 2)


Commercial marks

embossed paper label acid etched seal

Method of manufacture

free blown contact moulding

two-piece dip three-piece turn

pattern optic press machine

Decorative motifs

flutes ribs/flutes panels notching hobnails starburst sunburst diamonds

Colours

dark olive(= "black glass") olive light olive

clear translucent

dark green green light green emerald green light blue blue cobalt blue (=Bristol blue) brown amber opaque opalescent decolourised

Figure 3. Glossary for the description of containers (page 2 of 2)

I 1 Tablewares

I I I I I I I I I I I I I

I

Method of manufature

refer to containers

Bowl shapes

cup ovoid round funnel conical trumpet waisted bell bucket ogee tulip

Stem formations

annular knop bladed knop ball knop annulated knop angular knop

Foot formations

conical lemon squeezer

Closures

Closures

stopper sauce type flat oblong ball disc mushroom target lozenge screw cork cover lid ball stopper {Codd's) spring lightning-type crown

Figure 4. Glossary for the description of tablewares and closures


Figure 5. Container base profiles

base concave push up deep

base concave push up mid

base concave push up shallow

base concave moulded

base flat


F.; .... ·.·.·.-;o.·.··> I

down-tooled rim rounded rim

Figure 6. Container rim profiles

I I

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Plate 1.

-~ --~~------,

"Case" Gin Bottle. Container/liquor. Colour- Dark Olive. Flared lip Height 22.0cm. Special Find 431 Unit- Bike area. Feature (2) E-W trench. South of Main Building area. Date - up to 1880's.


Plate 2. Intact Bottle. Container/soft drink Colour- Light green. Height 25.5cm. Special Find 016 Unit- 38R 20.73. Feature (3) Main Building area Date- Post 1909.

I

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I

Plate 3. Beer Bottle. Container/liquor Colour- Dark Olive "Black". Height 20.0cm. Special Find 502 Unit- Bike area Back-Hoe, unphased, Area south of Main Building Date - c 1830's - 1870's

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I I

Plate 4. Chutney, Pickle Bottle. Container/food Colour- light green. Height 22.0cm. Special Find 432 Unit - bike area. Feature (2) E-W Trench Date - Post 1850's

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Plate 5. "Codd" Bottle. Container/mineral water Colour- Light green. Height 19.5cm. Special Find 430 Unit- bike area. Feature (2) E-W Trench Date - 1879 - 1916


Plate 6. "Salad" Oil Bottle. Container/food Colour- light green. Height 24.0cm. Special Find 127 Unit- 22 R4. Feature (13) Phase VI South Outbuilding Date - Post 1850's

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Plate 7. "Salad" or Vinegar Bottle. Container/food Colour- light green. Height 21.5cm. Special Find 523 Unit- M2 R 32. Features 9-10 Stables area. Date - Post 1870's - 1920's


Plate 8. Sauce Bottle. Container/food Colour- light green. Height 17.0cm. Special Find 407 Unit- Bike area. Feature (1) E-W South of Main Building Date - Probably 1890's


Plate 9. Medicine Bottle. Container/medicine Colour- Green. Height 17.0cm. Special Find 422 Unit- Bike area- unstratified, South of Main Building Date - Post 1880

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Plate 10.

I Same Medicine Bottle as photograph (9)

I I

I I Colour key to Plates 11 and 12

1. Dark Olive "Black"

I 2. Olive

3. Light Olive

I 4. Dark Green

4A

I Dark Green

5. Emerald Green

I 6. Green

6A

I Green

6B

I Green

I 6C

Green

I 7. Light Green

8. Clear

I 9. Cobalt Blue

10. Dark Blue

I 11. Blue

12. Light Blue

I 13. Red

14. Brown

I 15. Amber

16. Light Amber

I 17. Light Yellow

18. Yellow

I 19. Opaque

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Plate 11 . Top Row Bottom Row

Plate 12. Top Row Bottom Row

Colours _ Dark Olive, Olive, Light Olive, Dark Green (2) Emerald, Green (3), Light Green, Clear

Colours Cobalt, Dark Blue, Blue, Light Blue, Red Brown, Amber, Light Amber, Light Yellow, Yellow, Opaque.


Plate 13. "Hamilton" Base Fragment. Container/Mineral Water. Colour- Green. Unit- 32 R8. Feature (14) Phase VII North Outbuilding + Privy Date - Post 1850's

Plate 14. Bottle bases. Containers/liquors Diameters 6.5 em and 8.0 em Special finds 586 Unit 36 R 32 Feature (2) Main Building area 420 Unit Bike Area Feature (1) South of Main Building Date - up to 1870.


Plate 15. Rim- Neck Fragments. Container/liquor Colour- Dark Olive "Black" Unit- 38 R 16. Feature (14) Phase I Northern Outbuilding + Privy Date- Up to 1820's(?) (specimen to left has a wide orifice).

Plate 16. Vitner Prunts. Container/liquor Colour - Dark Olive "Black" (Opalescent) Special Finds 644 Unit 40 R1 0 Feature (3) Phase Ill North Outbuilding +Privy 40 Unit 40 R1 0 Feature(15) Phase Ill North Outbuilding +Privy 41 Unit 40 R10 Feature(15) Phase Ill North Outbuilding+ Privy 85 Unit 36 R 6 Feature(12) Phase Ill North Outbuilding +Privy 191 Unit 32 R8 Feature (14) Phase VIII? Northe Outbuilding+ Privy 1 07 Unit 36 R 36 Feature (11) Main Building 392 Unit 38R 26.5-27 Feature (1) Phase VII Main Building Date - 1 07 and 392 After 1876

- Others before 1850.

I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I II

Plate 17.

- - - - - - -------------,

Neck, Body Base Fragments. Container/liquor Colour- Green (opalescent). Height 28.0cm (approx). Special Find 541. Unit- M2 R32. Feature (16c) Phase II-VII Stables area Date - c 1850 (?)


--- ~~- -~-

Plate 18. Rim -Neck Fragments. Container/liquor Colour- Dark Olive "Black" and opalescent Unit- 40R 10. Feature (13) Phase Ill North Outbuilding +Privy Dates - from 1750 - 1920

Plate 19. Tableware I Tumblers Colours - Light Green and Clear. Height 12.0cm (approx) Unit - 20 R 4. Feature (11) Phase VI South Outbuilding Date - Post 1850-1 860's

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I

Plate 20. Rim- Neck Fragment. Container/liquor Colour- Amber Unit 40 R 8. Feature (8) Phase Ill North Outbuilding +Privy Date - Poss 1 827


Plate 21. Jar Closure. Container/Medical or toiletries. Colour- Light Green (opalescent). Diameter 6.0cm Unit- Bike Area. Feature (2) E-W Trench Date - 19th century.


Plate 22. Rim- Neck Fragment. Container/liquor Colour- Light Olive (opalescent). Special Find 546 Unit 40R 10. Feature (13) Phase II North Outbuilding +privy Date - Up to 1830's


Plate 23. Bottle Bases. Container/unknown Colour- Light Green. Special Find 129 and 186 Unit - 22 R4. Feature (13) Phase VI South Outbuilding Date- 1850


Plate 24. Bottle. Container/Medicine Colour- Clear. Height 1 0.8cm. Special Find 165 Unit- 38R 6-9. Feature (43) Phase Ill- IV North Outbuilding & Privy Date- early, pre 1820 (?)


Plate 25. "Cabin" Ink Bottle. Container/Ink Colour- Green. Height 3.9cm. Special Find 393 Unit- 36 R 32. Feature (1) Main Building Area. Date - Post 1840's

Plate 26. Rim Neck Fragments. Containers/Foods- sauces Colours- Light Green & Blue (opalescent). Special Finds 650 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) Phase VI South Outbuilding 88 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) Phase VI South Outbuilding 102 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) Phase VI South Outbuilding 651 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) Phase VI South Outbuilding

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Plate 27. Blob Top Corker. Container/Soft Drink - Mineral Water Colour- Light Blue. Height 18.0cm. Special Find 388 Unit - Bike area. Feature (2) North-South Trench. South of Main Building Date- 1873 -1911


Plate 28. Bottle Fragments with Wire Retainers. Containers/liquor, possibly beer bottles. Colour- Dark Olive "Black". Special Finds 128 Unit 22 R 4. Feature (13) Phase VI South Outbuilding 512 Unit 4 MR 16. Feature (11) Phase V Stables area Date - up to 1890

Plate 29. Rim Neck Fragments. Containers/liquor Colour- Dark Olive "Black" to Dark Green Unit - all found in Unit 34 R 22. Feature (3) Phase VIII Main Building Date - Up to 1860's


----~-~--

Plate 30. Rim - Neck Fragments with closures. Containers/unidentified possibly chemical reagent bottles. Special Finds 90 Unit 22 R 4 Feature (6) North-South Outbuilding 121 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) South Outbuilding 124 Unit 20 R 4 Feature (11) South Outbuilding Date - 1820's to mid 20thcentury.

I I I

APPENDIX 1. Recording forms used in the analysis of glass artefacts.

I • 11 I I I • I

I I I I

Provenance

Date excavated

Context

Form/category/subcategory

Height/width (s)/volu me

Lip/rim/neck

Shoulder/body

Base

Appendage/closure

• Decoration/colour

I I I I

Manufacture

Archival information

Catalogue no.

Find no.

---------

•-------------------~ Significance/period

I ~-----P-h_o_to_g_ra_p_h_s--------------------~-------------------------------------

1 Date/analyst

1/5/87

I -- - ___ _... _____ _

I II

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• • I --r -I • I

I • I -_I -I ll I

~ I

LA Y!EfRl SH!E!ET

Trench I Feature I Dates excavated

Breakdown of all fragments

CATEGORY~UBCATEGORY

Description/decoration

-----

Remarks (refer to ... attached analysis forms)

Colour No of sherds

-- -------- f-

115/5/87 I Date/analyst

I

Weight

-

I I I I I I I I I ;I I

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APPENDIX 2. Glass as a building material

The following information is extracted from "Glass" by G.S. gibbons, Materials

Studies for Building Restoration, Third Quarterly Report, to the Heritage Council of New South Wales.

1790 Gov Phillip requests panes 'not less than 10 inches by 8 inches '(MH)

1804 Unglazed windows still common in Sydney (MH) Glass still valuable

1810 Bay windows in shop display: numerous panes of crown glass (JMF)

1813 "Bottle blowing shop" in Sydney (LJ)

1817 Plate glass available, limited dimensions (MH)

mid 1820s Semi-circular fanlights no longer only form (JMF)

1830s Elliptical fanlights; sidelights to front door (lower half panelled) (JMF)

1830 Cylindrical glass process yields larger panes (to 24 inches x 18 -----------------

inches) (JMF)

1835-1920s glass all Normandie (cylinder) type imported from England (JMF)

c. 1840

1844

1850s

1866

1872

1880s

rectangular fanlights and sidelights, larger panes available (JMF)

sheets of plate glass available in Australia up to 24 inches long (MH) plate used in Customs House (MH)

sheets up to 4 feet x 2 feet

furnace in Melbourne (LJ) glass bottle factory in Sydney (LJ)

Melbourne glass bottle works (LJ)

large sheets (to 5 feet by 3 feet) and bright colours (red, blue, green) in leadlights (RB, JMF)


1892 coloured leadlights in front door, in sidelights and in fanlights

1916 Australian Glass Manufacturers Co. Ltd. (LJ)

note: do not quote or copy this information without the permission of G.S. Gibbons, Department of Mineral Resources

(JMF) = Freeland, J.M. 1972 Architecture in Australia. Penguin Book, Victoria.

(LJ) = Jacob, L. 1977 Glass. Paper presented at Traditional Building

seminar, Graduate School of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales (ISBN 0908502117).

(MH) = Herman, M. 1970. The Early Australian Architects and their work. 2nd edition Angus and Robertson, Sydney.

q930 egl r• - university of sydneynswaol.library.usyd.edu.au/data/pdfs/22617_id... · house site,...

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