3. Historic Character Values Archaeology

3.1 Archaeological Sites in the Mt Eden Main Works Area

Three archaeological sites have been recorded within the main works area (Figure 3-1). These are:

1.

2.

3. R11/51, a shell midden site related to Māori settlement, recorded in the 1960s near the railway lines and within 31 Ruru Street, but subsequently destroyed by development works. R11/3079, a pre-1900 building and any associated subsurface remains at 31 Shaddock Street. The building was demolished prior to the enabling works following archaeological recording, and this was addressed in a separate demolition phase HC DWP (Archaeology Section) (OPW60335715). There were also associated subsurface remains on the property which will have been investigated, recorded and removed during the enabling works, under a separate DWP. R11/3080, a pre-1900 building and any associated subsurface remains at 6 Flower Street. The building was removed prior to the enabling works following archaeological recording, and again this was addressed in the separate demolition phase HC DWP (Archaeology Section). There is potential for associated subsurface remains on the property, but these will have been investigated, recorded and removed prior to the main works under a separate enabling works HC DWP.

Figure 3-1: Recorded archaeological/historic heritage sites within or adjacent to the Project area (indicated in red), with dashed red lines indicating the scheduled extent of place of Mt Eden Prison. Areas of identified archaeological potential at 6-10 Ngahura Street and 19 Shaddock Street indicated in blue.

Page 11

Mt Eden Main Works

The archaeological requirements relating to the two pre-1900 buildings (R11/3079 and R11/3080) were addressed in the Mt Eden Demolition Historic Character Delivery Work Plan (Archaeology Section) 2018.

The archaeological requirements relating to subsurface remains associated with the two pre-1900 buildings (R11/3079 and R11/3080) were addressed in the Mt Eden Enabling Works Historic Character Delivery Work Plan (Archaeology Section) 2019. This also addressed the potential for subsurface archaeological remains to be exposed elsewhere within the main works area, including at 19 Shaddock Street, the location of a 1920s timber building. This building has been demolished but was identified as having some potential for subsurface archaeological remains relating to earlier (pre-1900) occupation of the property.

Modern development within other properties in the main works area and within road reserves would have removed most evidence of pre-1900 European or earlier Māori occupation. However, subsurface features relating to 19 th century occupation have been exposed at 6-8 Ngahura Street and additional features, such as wells, building foundations and rubbish deposits, may be exposed elsewhere during the enabling works that are still to be carried out. In addition, the presence of remnant Māori occupation remains cannot be excluded.

Within the railway corridor, any remains of the original 19 th century railway tracks and formation have been destroyed by subsequent double tracking and electrification works.

It is expected that most if not all of the archaeological remains present in the main works area will be exposed during the enabling works bulk earthworks phase and will have been investigated, recorded and removed as provided for in the Mt Eden Enabling Works HC DWP (Archaeology Section). There are no known areas of pre-1900 archaeological potential for the works along the NAL corridor. Overall, monitoring is not required during the main works.

However, there is a possibility that subsurface pre-1900 or early 20th century archaeological remains may still be present and these may be exposed during the main works. This will be mitigated and managed through the implementation of this HC DWP (Archaeology Section) and an Archaeological Authority (no. 2017/793) issued by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) for the wider CRL project (“the HNZPT Authority”) (see Appendix C).

In addition to pre-1900 archaeological sites, the Mount Eden railway station platform is recorded in the Auckland Council Cultural Heritage Inventory (CHI #19369). The original platform has been partially removed and the platform raised, but part of the original 1912 island platform will still be present beneath the existing platform surface. There are also some remnant stone walls south of the tracks at Mount Eden Station, which are likely to post-date 1906, when double tracking began. These are addressed in the HC DWP (Built Heritage Section).

The original Mt Eden Prison immediately adjacent to the main works area is also a recorded archaeological site (R11/2408), and the old prison wall is located immediately adjacent to the NAL railway corridor. Any potential vibration effects on the wall will be addressed in the HC DWP (Built Heritage Section).

Page 12

Mt Eden Main Works