What Melbourne’s past reveals today

Melbourne’s past is not just something we read about. It is uncovered, preserved and rethought through real discoveries and places across the city. This National Archaeology Week, you have the chance to experience exactly that.

The PMI Victorian History Library is hosting two standout events that explore how this happens in practice, from archaeological finds beneath the city to the reinterpretation of historic sites that still shape the landscape today.

Revealing the Hidden: Historical Archaeology and Conservation of Unique Artefacts from 19th Century Melbourne
Tuesday 19 May 2026 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm AEST

The first event focuses on what lies beneath Melbourne. Recent projects have uncovered artefacts that offer a rare glimpse into everyday life in the nineteenth century. These finds are often fragile and require careful excavation and conservation, highlighting the work that goes into preserving the past.

From Ruin to Renewal: Hidden Histories of Melbourne’s Plains
Thursday 21 May 2026 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm AEST

The second event shifts the focus to what remains. Across Melbourne’s western plains, former homesteads and ruins are being rethought and given new meaning. These places connect past and present, offering new perspectives on identity, community and change.

Together, the events show that history is not static. It is actively revealed, interpreted and brought into the present through the work of experts in archaeology, conservation and heritage.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the people behind these projects and see how Melbourne’s past is uncovered and understood in practice.

Join us during National Archaeology Week and gain a deeper understanding of how Melbourne’s past continues to influence the city today.

Click the links and book your ticket today!