ASHA and IA are pleased to announce the sessions for the 2017 joint conference entitled 'Travelling Stories' which will take place in October in Tasmania. We welcome all proposals for papers or presentations but especially those that fit in one of the sessions or with the general theme of the conference. There is currently room in the draft programme for both ASHA and IA to have a ‘general’ session where papers or presentations on any topic might be scheduled. However, please be aware that if new sessions are developed or existing sessions attract large numbers of proposals, these general sessions may be curtailed or dropped.

The list of sessions (which can be found here) is divided into:

• ‘Joint Sessions’ which will be scheduled as plenaries; there will be no other concurrent sessions
• ‘ASHA Sessions’ which will have a focus on historical archaeology but which are open to all to present in and attend. These will be concurrent with IA sessions and possibly other ASHA sessions
• ‘IA Sessions’ which will have a focus on interpretation but which are open to all to present in and attend. These will be concurrent with ASHA sessions and possibly other IA sessions.

For more details about the call for papers/presentations, the sessions, how to submit or other general conference information, please see the following link:

http://portarthur.org.au/activities/travelling-stories/

To register please click the link below:

http://portarthur.org.au/activities/travelling-stories-registration/

Excavations have now concluded at the site of the Carlton Hotel, Geelong. The excavations were carried out ahead of the construction of a new building for the National Disability Insurance Agency in Geelong’s CBD. Early domestic building footings were discovered at the back of the hotel, as well as a barrel cesspit. Artefacts of note included crockery related to the previous Union Inn Hotel, various pipes and a complete bone domino.

For more information, please see the following link:

www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/from-beneath-old-carlton-hotel-site-hints-of-gold-rush-era-lifestyle/

The Heritage Act 2017 which becomes operative on 1 November 2017 is proposed to be supported by new Victorian Heritage Regulations 2017 and Heritage (Underwater Cultural Heritage) Regulations 2017 announced by the Minister for Planning. The Regulations will “set fees for certain activities, set penalties and infringement offences, require details and results of historical archaeological surveys to be provided to the Executive Director, prescribe documents and forms for activities established by the Heritage Act 2017”. A Regulations Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared, and comments are invited on this and the two sets of Regulations themselves. The closing date for submission of comments is Friday 28th July.

For more information, please see the following link:

https://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/legislation/heritage-regulations