Cutting edge digital tech bringing artefacts to global audience

Thanks to 3D imaging technology developed at Macquarie University, Australian historical artefacts that otherwise would rarely be seen can now be closely inspected – and enjoyed – online.

They range across archaeological treasures from the earliest years of the convict colony in NSW, to 20th century items that tell engaging stories about the social history of Parramatta in Sydney’s greater west.

Among them is a convict cup made of Sydney clay, dating to just two years after the First Fleet arrived, and a 1920s hand-made watering can used by a well-known family of local market gardeners.

A convict-made Wellington jug scanned in all its 1820s glory is thought to have belonged to John Hodges, an emancipated convict-cum-sly grog trader, who built Parramatta’s historic ‘Brislington’  – where the jug was found – using money he won in a card game.

Beyond bringing items into view, the technology allows people to see more of the object than they ever could in a museum. 

“With any museum or institution, there are collections kept in boxes for years that are never seen, and we want to bring our heritage items that otherwise sit in storage to life, and make them accessible,” says Janelle Blucher, Research and Collection Services Coordinator at Parramatta City Council.

“Parramatta has a rich Indigenous history and behind Sydney is the second oldest colonial city in Australia.

“One of the key focuses for us is to celebrate and share our cultural heritage assets that  assist us in telling our stories – and this project really does provide the ideal way for us to achieve this objective.”

Michael Rampe, Senior Learning Designer in Macquarie’s Faculty of Arts, points out that beyond bringing items into view, the technology allows people to see more of the object than they ever could in a museum, where visitors are typically not permitted to touch objects let alone inspect them.

In contrast, the 3D digitising technology means users can look closely at the object from every perspective, maneuvering it to magnify it, see inside it, to spin it around, and even to turn it upside down.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the value of being able to access artefacts online, Rampe says. Academics, students, historians and interested members of the public are among those who are expected to take advantage of Parramatta Council’s expanding 3D collection of heritage items.