Talking History: Revealing Early Brisbane: The Cross River Rail Archaeological Program with Dr Kevin Rains
Join us on Saturday 16 November at 2.00 pm at the Yeronga Community Centre, 62 Park Rd., Yeronga for our last and very special Talking History for 2024.
Dr Kevin Rains, Senior Heritage Consultant, Niche Environment and Heritage Pty Ltd., will present a fascinating and little documented story of the ordinary life of the residents of early Brisbane through key findings from the Cross River Rail archaeological works.
The cost is $5.00 (Members), $10.00 (non members) including afternoon tea. Bookings are open now https://events.humanitix.com/talking-history-revealing-early-brisbane-the-cross-river-rail-archaeological-program
From 2018 to 2021, Niche worked on the archaeological investigation into the sites where the four underground stations (Dutton Park, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street), are being constructed as part of the Cross River Rail project.
The talk focuses primarily on the Albert Street Chinatown area where a row of Chinese shops dating from the 1880s was uncovered, and the South Brisbane Railway depot (old Sunmap/Go-Print site), which was an early rubbish dump for the South Brisbane community.
Below: Ceramic shards found below Albert Street in Brisbane.
Below: Decorated opium picks
Kevin is an historical archaeologist and heritage manager with experience coordinating and delivering a wide range of projects including heritage planning, conservation and archaeological management plans, historical heritage assessments, and community engagement programs. He holds a PhD in archaeology from the University of Queensland and his specialist skills include the assessment of places of local and state significance, and developing and implementing key heritage policies and guidelines including local government heritage registers. In particular Kevin’s expertise extends to researching, publishing on, and managing local and State heritage places, early mining and agricultural landscapes, cemeteries and the built environment of the late nineteenth century to post-war period. He is also a leading Australian researcher of Overseas Chinese settlement of colonial Queensland. He currently works as Senior Heritage Consultant for Niche Environment and Heritage Pty Ltd.
