Clerk's Quarters, before being demolished, as it too was within the newly laid out street. Cottage 3 was the Post Office by 1831, later also the Police Clerks Quarters and then the residence of the Clerk of the Court, possibly until the 1850s or 1860s. Development commenced in 1821 to 1822. Cottage 2 was demolished in the 1830s. Cottage 3 survived until the 1850s or 1860s. The School of Arts was built in the 1880s. The Town Hall was built in the 1890s. The site was redeveloped in the 1970s as the Civic Centre. Redevelopment as the Glasshouse commenced in 2006 and was completed in 2008. The artifact assemblage from the site reveals the economic stagnation of the town, brought on not only by the economic depression of the 1840s, but also the departure of the penal establishment and military in 1847. The site was redeveloped in the 1880s as the School of Arts and in the 1890s it was joined by the Town Hall. The assemblages recovered from these buildings reveals a total reversal of fortune for the town, as both these institutions indicate a new level of affluence and wealth, not before seen on the property. Description It is an archaeological site, comprising the remains of Overseers' Cottages 2 and 3, together with sections of brick barrel drain. The site was subject to archaeological excavation in 2006 and remains of the Overseer's Cottages 2 and 3, together with part of the brick barrel drain will be on display in the completed Glasshouse development. The brick walls, cobble floors and foundation trenches of the Cottages survive intact. Sections of the brick barrel drain have been conserved in situ. The brick walls, cobble floors and foundation trenches of the Cottages survive intact. Sections of the brick barrel drain have been conserved in situ. Heritage listing Port Macquarie was established as a penal settlement for secondary punishment in 1821, but wound down to make way for free settlers in 1830. As a penal settlement it may be compared with the first settlements at Sydney, Parramatta and Norfolk Island, all of which were commenced in 1788. Port Macquarie shares many institutions and public buildings in common with these first settlements. In terms of secondary punishment it may be compared with Newcastle (1804 - 1824) in New South Wales, and Moreton Bay in Queensland. A progression can be seen from Newcastle to Port