Two hundred years after Albany's founding, archaeologists are continuing to uncover new chapters of the city's story.
This September, students from The University of Notre Dame Australia will undertake a three-day archaeological fieldwork program at the Princess Royal Fortress, investigating the remains of several significant military buildings that once stood on the site.
The excavations will focus on the Barracks extension built in 1899 and the Artificer's House constructed in 1892, while also exploring the remains of an 1892 Recreation Building that served as a library and canteen for the South Australian Garrison who first manned the fortress.
The Recreation Building was a central part of life at the fortress before it was destroyed by fire in February 1897. Plans were later developed to extend the Barracks, with the site continuing to evolve as Albany's military presence grew. The extension was again destroyed by fire during the 1970s, this time by vandals, and has remained untouched for over 50 years.
The fieldwork forms part of the ongoing Hidden Stories of the Fortress project, which has seen displays across the Princess Royal Fortress refreshed over the past seven years to reveal lesser-known aspects of Albany's military history.
Princess Royal Fortress Curator David Theodore said the excavations highlight how much remains to be discovered about Albany's past.
"Even after more than a century, and as Albany marks 200 years of European settlement, there are still stories beneath our feet waiting to be uncovered," he said.
"These excavations give us an opportunity to better understand the people who lived and worked at the fortress and to add new chapters to Albany's history."
The project continues a growing body of archaeological research being undertaken across Albany by The University of Notre Dame Australia under the leadership of Senior Lecturer Dr Shane Burke.
In recent years, archaeological investigations have explored sites including Lawley Park, Foundation Park, and the Port of Albany Pilot Station earlier this year in January 2026, helping to build a richer understanding of Albany's early colonial and maritime history.
Visitors to the Princess Royal Fortress are welcome to observe the fieldwork while it is underway.
Findings from the excavation will be presented to the community at a free public event at the Albany Public Library in November 2026, with further details to be announced.
As Albany marks its bicentenary, the project serves as a reminder that history is not only preserved in museums and archives, but can still be found beneath the ground, waiting to be rediscovered.
