MAITLAND District Historic Society (MDHS) is calling on Maitland Council to preserve history unearthed during archaeological investigations at its future administration site.
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Committee member, and Maitland Regional Museum president, Janece McDonald said the organisation believes the site should be put on display to the public.
"I and members of the MDHS and community are even more convinced of the need to preserve this glimpse into the past and make it a showpiece for heritage, education and tourism for Maitland," Dr McDonald said.
"Images whether digital or not do not, for example show the scale of the small cottage-how would/could a family live in such a space today.
"How has society changed..so many more questions for our children to ponder ...What an amazing way to learn about our past and how we have progressed into the future."
Maitland Council has been inviting the public to tour the site on High Street during the archaeological investigations.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered a number of historic items including wells, cellars, rat bones, glass bottles and significant sandstone from the historic Royal Arch Inn.
Dr McDonald said by putting a glass cover over the wells, cellar and sandstone, Maitland Council could utilise the site as a tourist attraction.
"Children and tourists can see how the buildings were formed-no foundations, just floor bearers on compacted earth. Where did the rock come from-who made the bricks-where?," Dr McDonald said.
"So many questions regarding Maitland's early history to ponder. What a tourist attraction this site could be.
"So many such sites all over the world have been preserved under glass, with innovative interpretation and visited by so many locals and tourists - International, national, well as local -a hook for Maitland- a gateway to explore Maitland's heritage."