Material Culture and the Construction of Hierarchy at the Conservatorium Site, Sydney

Two sets of evidence found are examined to illustrate how hierarchy was mediated at Government House, Sydney during the mid to late nineteenth century. Analysis of household inventories establishes the parameters for how the material culture of furniture and furnishings was used to express a set of hierarchical principles which controlled the lives of the servants and staff of Government House. People’s positions in the hierarchy was expressed through the use of specific items of furniture, types of timbers, fabrics, and the presence of matching or non-matching toilet sets. This evidence provided an interpretative framework through which to explore the artefacts recovered from the main rubbish dump during the archaeological program at the Conservatorium Site so as to develop an understanding of the meaning of the material culture of Government House.