Maritime Cultural Landscape Wagonga Inlet

The Maritime Archaeology and Maritime Cultural Landscape of Wagonga Inlet: a nineteenth century south coast community.

Key Words: Maritime Archaeology, Underwater Archaeology, Nautical Achaeology, Cultural Seascapes, Marine Archaeology

PROJECT AIM:

This Maritime Archaeological Project is using a maritime cultural landscape survey methodology to collect a source of geographical information on the Wagonga Inlet during 19th Century. The project is conducted by Paula E. Williams a p/t Flinders University student who was  enrolled in the Graduate/ Diploma in Maritime Archaeology.



MAP WAGONGA INLET



Wagonga Inlet: Aerial View

Maritime Archaeological Signatures Example1:

Background:

The Mill Bay Walkway in Narooma Wagonga Inet is a 350m long timber deck suitable for wheelchairs, pedestraians and cycling that runs adjacent to the Wagonga Inlet. The first thing you will encounter is the boat ramp where there  are often large rays milling around waiting for a feed from fisherfolk. More often than not the boatramp has become a favourite area of seals as well and if they aren't here they are usually on the other side of the inlet at the local wharf waiting for a fishhead or two. 
 

The walkway is named Mill Bay Walkway because it leads to where Mitchell's Mill once stood in the cove and was constructed by the timber bridge crew of the local Council.

Though it is a very pleasant walk and a great vantage point to fish from one of the roles of the walkway is to connect the history of the area and the town to the present.

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Mill Bay Boardwalk in 1885:

Narooma Historical Society Walk 1:
https://www.southcoasttravelguide.com.au/mill-bay-walkway

PROJECT PLAN:

Project Title:

The Maritime Archaeology and Maritime Cultural Landscape of Wagonga Inlet: a nineteenth century South Coast Community.

Aim:

To collect data from Wagonga Inlet in an organised and accessible form and to tabulate into a GIS system, to archive and retrieve for updates and access its Historical significance for future generations.

Methodology: Archaelogical recording using Maritime cultural landscape methodology.

Objectives: Project participants will be able to:

•  Determine exact GPS positioning, longitude and latitude coordinates of each site location its site name and its relevant significance to the study and description.
•  Record information details of each site by contexts and stratigraphy using site survey methods.
•  Identify maritime archaeological material by applying a project numbering system.
•  Collect evidence of material through photography, video, site plan sketch and any social and /or historical research evidence available.
•  Store and catalogue systematically on a GIS data base for continuous update and retrieval as             new information comes to hand.
•  Recording plans and sections to all site /project objects.
•  Collect oral stories, folklore relationships of the land and sea from the users perspective of the inlet and evidence from existing locals and canvassing histories from local societies and or other sources. 

Rationale:

The study of the past and telling its stories are critical to our sense of belonging, to our communities and to our shared future.

Legacy: 

History is the foundation for future generations. It is crucial to our future because it explains our shared past. When we preserve authentic, meaningful and significant stories, places, documents, images and artefacts, we leave a foundation upon which future Australians can build.

Reference: The Value of History 

This statement was adopted on 3 July 2019 by the History Councils of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. It draws on the work of history organisations in the USA that promote the relevance and value of history through their History Relevance campaign. The four Australian History Councils have, with permission, adapted the USA‘Value of History’ statement for all Australians to use.

• Equipment and teams 

           Narooma Historical Society members

           Brad Duncan ? Heritage Division NSW
           ESC GIS ? assistance and or platform access

• Roles (TBA)

          Project Manager (PM)Coordinating the collection of data 

          PM and Team members will record stories, video, measure, photograph, GPS locations.

• Timeline:  January-June (TBA)

Previous Study Plans and Literature

Wagonga Inlet Study Plan 2001

Image Ref: L.Pacey; Narooma's Past-Steamers, sawmills and salmon; 2001

 Maritime cultural landscape study purpose Life beyond the project!!

Narooma Historical Society collects historical literature, images and other data and GPS the location sites.  Initial project will concentrate on studies researched in particular Wagonga Inlet as an example and its local historical significance, (timber industry, fish cannery, gold , shipping etc local stories and organised into cultural landscape themes. Showing corridors of history in time overlapping or side by side in time and history. These landscape themes, could n contribute to the shire’s GIS as a collective rather than each historical society keeping information as an esoteric collection. Building digital accessible data for the Eurobodalla Heritage Division of our local histories in a one stop shop approach eg sharing  a repository where it can be offered to the public one day as ‘heritage near me’ type concept. 

Thought:

Maybe looking at a 'communities of practice ' eg l Societies contributing to a Council Heritage site from numerous  Historical societies and related information that could be helpful for tourism and heritage conservation and digital archiving. Seems like we all do individual things sometimes and not everyone is aware or knows about them.

Just a thought to talk to and how we could coordinate and manage it. We can link our websites to council , but to have an ESC Heritage GIS site would be great and good for visitors to access when up and running.

FUTURE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
This Maritime Archaeological Project acknowledges the close workings with the Narooma community especially members of the Narooma Historical Society and  NSW Heritage Department Sydney, Maritime Archaeology Department??? and key members of the Eurobodalla Council's Heritage Division.????

Latest in 3D Imaging Maritime Archaeology by Flinders University.