Shell Quarry

Author

Shire of Shark Bay

Place Number

11724

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Location

Lot 55 Hamelin Pool Rd Shark Bay

Location Details

Local Government

Shark Bay

Region

Gascoyne

Construction Date

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	12 Dec 1997	Category 2	Category 2 High level of protection appropriate: provide maximum encouragement to the owner under the Town Planning Scheme to conserve the significance of the place.

Statement of Significance

The Shell Quarry has significance as evidence of the mining of coquina shell blocks, used for the construction of a number of buildings in Shark Bay - an unusual solution to a lack of building materials. As a group the buildings and relics of the Hamelin Pool Telegraph Station Precinct make an important contribution to providing a better understanding of the development of the Shark Bay district, with each place enhancing the significance of the others.

Physical Description

The Shell Quarry is located in a small precinct which also includes the former Hamelin Pool Post and Telegraph Office (Place No. 17), harness shed, the former Post Master's Quarters (Place No. 18) and several other recently constructed buildings. Nearby is also a grave (Place No. 19) and a flagpole (Place No. 20).

The SHELL QUARRY, which is situated in a small gully between the flagpole and the ocean, is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 metres in depth and 150 metres in length. The coquina shell quarry features several areas of carved steps, evidence of the workings.

History

An information plaque at the quarry states that early settlers in the area had few sources of timber or rock for building and therefore coquina shell blocks were used as a substitute building material in some instances. Excavated with a crosscut saw, blocks from this quarry were used mainly in the 1950s and 60s to construct numerous buildings, including several station homesteads and St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Denham. (Place No. 3) Today shell blocks from this quarry are taken only to maintain the historic buildings in Shark Bay. (Source: Plaque)

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Plaque

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	MINING	Other
Original Use	MINING	Other

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OCCUPATIONS	Hospitality industry & tourism
OCCUPATIONS	Mining {incl. mineral processing}

Creation Date

20 May 1998

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

31 Dec 2016

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.