discovering more about the historic property's past.

Last September, an 1810 diary entry describing a ``small miserable hut'', an old painting and estate plan led to the discovery of the first residence Elizabeth Macarthur stayed in at the farm. But it turns out there was

evidence of another building on the site that could be the real ``small

miserable hut'' Mrs Macarthur lived in during the early 1800s.

``We are probably about 90per cent certain it's the right building but there is an adjacent building that is marked by a depression in the ground that we didn't have much

opportunity to excavate last year,'' archeologist Ted Higginbotham said.

``One is going to be the small

miserable hut. It really depends on which one came first.''

The dig, starting on May 25, will also look for evidence of the woolstore that is believed to have been built in 1813. If it is found, the woolstore building will help fill in the blanks when it comes to development between 1805 and 1821 on the Belgenny property, owned then by Elizabeth and John Macarthur.

Dr Higginbotham has a fair idea where the woolstore might be.

``If you were John Macarthur, the most valuable thing to you would be your annual wool catch,'' he said.

``So you're not going to put the woolstore any distance from your residence and it's going to be close to where you're going to be living or where the manager of your estate is going to be living.

``If we can identify the woolstore it will confirm the small miserable hut was the main residence.''

Dr Higginbotham will give a lecture on the first dig and his findings in the

granary at Belgenny Farm at 7pm next Wednesday, May 20. Cost is $7.50, including supper. Bookings: 46546800.