After time in New Zealand, the Texas A&M Wintermester students arrived in Sydney on Sunday to begin the second leg of their three-week program.  The students are staying in the newly-opened Sydney Harbour YHA located in The Rocks, which is a fitting accommodation for these students studying sustainability. 

The YHA is the largest archaeological urban development ever completed in Australia.It is built upon the archaeological remnants of colonial Sydney – it is literally built upon, as you can see from the photo below which is looking down from the corridor by the rooms and the entrance (to the right). The photo shows an original street unearthed in the building process. In fact, 85 percent of the archeological site remains still visible at ground level.

The YHA also installed a range of sustainability measures to help with the aim of being a truly sustainable hostel. These installations include the use of a 40,000-litre rain water tank from which the water is used to flush the toilets,solar panels for hot water, recycling bins throughout the hostel (including in the rooms), and windows with reed switches that when on prevent air conditioning operation.

The students are picking up some great tips to take back to the U.S. on how to live in a more sustainable manner. The YHA proves that theconservation of in-situ remains as part of a modern building can both enhance the visitor experience and preserve fragile archaeological remains in an accessible and meaningful way for all to enjoy and from which to learn.