13/08/2026
Last weekend, about 100 members of the public were involved in an archaeological excavation at the Guildford Post Office. The Post Office building was built on the site in 1897, but from May 1854 a building existed that was the infirmary for Guildford’s convict depot that was later the town’s hospital. The excavation’s research question was to find physical evidence of the place’s use before the Post Office’s construction.
Excavation during the three days found evidence of the place’s changing landscape over time – a large circular pit containing the remains of a jarrah post of the fence that separated the rear section of the Post Office; trenches for the installation of terra-cotta and later plastic drainage pipes; and small personal artefacts. The remains of the fence – 6’ high and recorded in aerial images, waterboard plans, and many documents in the Australia National Archives about the Post Office’s operation by the PMG – separated private and work spaces. The post from the fence is a reminder that the Post Office building was not only a place of mail and telephone exchange, but also the residence of the Post Master and their family.
A few artefacts were unearthed. Most were in secondary contexts – meaning they came from disturbed sediments most likely formed during the digging of pits and trenches that cut through undisturbed layers – resulting in a mix of old and young artefacts. Probably the oldest datable artefact was a clay smoking pipe stem with 1830s-1840s attributes, while a small collection of electrical apparatus artefacts were associated with Post Office functions. However, a circular cement bollard in two pieces in the spoil of the fence post pit was scribed ‘17 V 59’. Initially this was interpreted as 17 May 1959, but the fence is present in the 1939 waterboard plan, while the use of a Roman numeral for month is unusual in the mid-20th century. If the fence post existed in 1939 and remained unchanged until its demolition after 1959, one has to propose the inscription in the bollard as 1859 rather than 1959. However, more research is needed, especially on the use of Portland cement in Western Australia, while the function of the cement bollard is unclear.
In true ‘Time Team’ fashion, undisturbed contexts and features were reached with about 35 minutes to go before the finish of the excavation. About 300mm below the present ground surface, a rammed earth feature resembling a floor was found, but very little of the feature was exposed to make a conclusive call. Future excavations may occur to test whether the feature is part of the infirmary/hospital.
The excavation would have been impossible without Bilgoman Property’s permission to access the area – thanks Chris and Elliott. Liesl of the SGHS put many hours into the logistics that made the three-days operate so well despite freezing winds, hail, and rain. Thanks to University of Notre Dame Australia Adjunct Lecturer Peter for the copious historical documents relating to the site, and to the students of NDA – the future archaeologists of our big State where there is so much work for archaeologists – who were outstanding in the field and at the Rose and Crown later. However, special thanks must go to those members of the public that battled the impermeability of Guildford Formation clay and who appreciated that patience is a key component of all archaeological excavations.
The images show the location of the 1854 infirmary footprint relative to the Post Office (1939), a 1958 aerial showing the fence separating the backyard, and the page of surveyor's field book for the railway's extension through Stirling Square showing the hospital and kitchen (1895). Finally, there is the cement bollard with inscription. Thanks Tia and Sammi for the last image.
