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Parbury Ruins

Kitchen area Parbury Ruins

Parbury Ruins

Located on the corner of Pottinger and Windmill Streets in Millers Point, Sydney, the Parbury Ruins were uncovered during the construction of an apartment block. Once excavated and recorded by archaeologists, the developers modified their design to retain the ruins, preserving them.

Access to the underground area is by appointment only, or during special open days. We booked tickets through Sydney Open, but they are also available from Museums of History New South Wales . If you are unable to book tickets, there are three windows displays showcasing broken ceramics and other items excavated from the ruins.

The ruins consist of the footings of a two-bedroom cottage from the 1820s, as well as the remains of a stone kitchen with a fireplace and a sink. Outside the dwelling are remnants of a verandah and a well. The well had been filled in, but contained the remains of ceramics and other items, many of which are on display.

Originally a dockworker’s home, the cottage was built of sandstone blocks cut by convicts from a local quarry. The cottage was probably demolished by the late 1860s or early 1870s when new wharves and bond stores were developed in the area.

A guide took us through the ruins, explaining the history and likely uses of the different rooms. Access is by stairs, so is not wheelchair accessible. Once you have descended the stairs, you walk over the original floor and get a very close look at the sandstone structure.

This was a fun visit and it’s great that the ruins have been preserved for the future.

Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra

Cartonnage of Nehemsu, 22 Dynasty, 943-746 BCE

Discover Ancient Egypt At The National Museum of Australia in Canberra

On display until 8 September 2024 at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Discover Ancient Egypt displays fascinating artifacts from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).

What’s on Display

Entering the museum, you are greeting by a statue of Anubis, the Egyptian god of funerary rites, protector of graves, and guide to the underworld. From here, the displays take you through the lives of ancient Egyptians, with an emphasis on the funerary process.

Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum Discover Ancient Egypt in Canberra
Statue of Anubis at the Entrance to the Australian Museum

Stelae

Used for a variety of purposes, stelae are stone or wooden slabs containing information. Uses included burial markers placed outside tombs, monuments that commemorated special events, the marking of boundaries or made offerings to gods. As such they provide a great inside to the thinking of the Egyptians.

Sarcophagi and Coffins

This was one of the largest parts of the display, with 10 coffins on display. The detail of the decorations used on them really has to be seen to be appreciated. Not only are the outsides covered, but the interior as well.

Also in this section, were several mummies. To demonstrate the latest scientific techniques used an interactive display allowed us to see what a 3D scan revealed. This meant that the interior and composition of the mummy could be determined without unwrapping and damaging the body inside.

Canopic Jars

During the mummification process, the internal organs and brain were removed. As these would be needed in the afterlife, they were stored in canopic jars. On display, were a series of jars, showing how the designed changed from square boxes, to stone jars.

Burial Goods

To ensure the dead enjoyed the afterlife, the tombs contained objects they would need. This could be as simple as a model of a boat, or a complex diorama showing the making of bread and the brewing of beer, to ensure that these were is plentiful supply.

What Did We Think?

This was a fantastic exhibition and highly recommended to anyone who likes archaeology or ancient history. Laid out with plenty of detailed descriptions, the displays are amazing. If you’re in Canberra while it’s on, it’s a great way to see Egyptian artifacts without leaving the country.

Replica of the Rosetta Stone
Replica of the Rosetta Stone

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Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Sennedjem's outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Ramses the Great at the Australian Museum

Running until May 19, 2024, The Australian Museum is currently hosting an exhibition centred on the Egyptian Pharoah Ramses II. This was a great opportunity to see some of the most important artifacts from ancient Egypt, without having to leave Australia.

Featuring over 180 artifacts, this is a large exhibition that we found fascinating from beginning to end. Starting with a short video presentation covering Ramses II’s life, it then proceeds through a series of display rooms containing the exhibits. Each section also has videos playing describing the artefacts in more detail.

Additional displays covered other aspects of Ancient Egypt, with one of the most striking being Sennedjem’s outer coffin. An artist, he worked on the tombs of Ramses and his father Seti while working on his own coffin on his days off.

Amazing jewelry, mummies of cats and crocodiles, masks and weapons gave diversity to what was displayed. As usual, the last room was a gift shop, where books and souvenirs could be purchased.