The Rocks: First Ground · 5
Labor Carved into Sandstone: The Big Dig and Susannah Place
Ep. 5 · The real protagonists were convicts and immigrant workers, not governors
FitTrip Editor · 2026.07.04
The Big Dig is a site of convict huts and shops dating to the 1790s, where a 1994 excavation uncovered more than 750,000 artifacts. Susannah Place (1844) is a working-class terrace built by an Irish immigrant, home to more than 100 households over time. The Argyle Cut is a tunnel dug by hand by convicts.
The real protagonists of this birthplace weren't governors — they were the convicts who carved its sandstone and the immigrant workers who lived in its lanes.
750,000 artifacts from the ground
The Big Dig is a site of convict huts and some 30 shops dating back to the 1790s; a 1994 excavation uncovered more than 750,000 artifacts Fact. It's now preserved alongside a YHA hostel, so you can stay steps above the dig itself.
A hundred households, one cramped backyard
Susannah Place (1844) is a row of four terrace houses built by Irish immigrant Edward Riley for working-class families; more than 100 households passed through it over the years Fact. Its small backyards and outdoor laundries show working-class life plainly.
A tunnel dug by hand
The Argyle Cut is a tunnel dug by convict hands, connecting The Rocks to Millers Point and Barangaroo Fact. The road cars and pedestrians pass through without a thought today was once carved out by pick and hand.
FAQ
- What is the Big Dig?
- A site of convict huts and some 30 shops dating to the 1790s; a 1994 excavation found more than 750,000 artifacts. It's now preserved alongside a YHA hostel.
- What is Susannah Place?
- A row of four terrace houses (1844) built by Irish immigrant Edward Riley for working-class families; more than 100 households passed through it.
- How was the Argyle Cut built?
- It was dug by convict hands, and connects The Rocks to Millers Point and Barangaroo.
Checklist
- The Big Dig — preserved alongside a YHA hostel
- Susannah Place (1844) — backyards and laundries
- Walk the Argyle Cut, dug by hand
- Read the district through convicts and immigrant workers, not governors
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