ARTS CENTRE BONE MYSTERY
AN ELEPHANT bone has been unearthed during construction at Geelong Arts Centre (formerly GPAC), with workers digging up the jumbosized surprise.
GAC chief Joel McGuinness told the Geelong Advertiser construction workers unearthed the bone during excavation works last year, as well as a treasure trove of other historical artefacts. These included tickets to theatre performances from the late 1800s, a century-old science textbook, an 1850s inkwell, an old maths test and a token.
But the bone, which is believed to be from the front leg of a baby elephant, was the most peculiar find.
“The elephant bone was the most interesting one,” Mr McGuinness said.
“There were some stories of elephants that were brought ht out as part of the gold rush, which could be a possibility.
“The working theory is it was most likely a part of the natural history collection in the Mechanics Institute.
“But we haven’t confirmed that, so if anyone has any information on elephant bones or elephants around the Mechanics Institute in Geelong, we want you to come forward.”
Mr McGuinness said it was “unlikely” “lik l ” th the b bone came from a circus.
GAC is currently undergoing a $38.5 million redevelopment that will feature a performance area identical to the Playhouse Theatre’s stage.
The centre was formerly the Mechanics Institute — an educational facility — that first opened in 1846.
Archaeologists studied the artefacts found at the construction site, which were then to Heritage Victor-tia. It is understood it took “months” for researchers to establish the bone had come from an elephant.
Archaeologist Racheal Minos told Seven News the bone was a puzzling discovery.
“We see cows, we see sheep bones commonly in the work that we do — but this is a very different looking bone,” she said. “What is an elephant bone doing in Geelong?”