As you walk across the Museum forecourt, known as First Government House Place, take time to look down. Observe the granite markings that plot the archaeologists’ grid, peer into a window that reveals archaeology underfoot, consider the fascinating story of this site. The place had many different uses before it became a museum: first Government House, a carter’s yard, ‘tin shed’, a car park.

During the 1980s, archaeologists uncovered the drains and foundations of first Government House, along with thousands of fragments dating back to 1788. See some of the fascinating artefacts unearthed, including the skeleton of a dog. Was this a feral dog or a much loved pet, carefully buried by its owner, perhaps one of the Governors? Look through the artefacts and imagine life in and around first Government House two centuries ago.