Mahogany Creek Quarry

Statement of Significance

The quarry sites of the Shire of Mundaring have varying degrees of significance; however, several have very high social, historic and scientific significance for their role in the development if important, landmark projects in the State including the Fremantle Harbour project, ballast for Stat Railway lines, Kings Park Memorial, Perth GPO, Commonwealth Bank (Forrest Place) and Council House. Over the years, the quarries were important local industries. Over the years, the quarries were important local industries for the region generally and a significant source of employment of convict and immigrant labour.

Physical Description

The physical description of these quarries varies considerably and today several of them no longer exist as they have been filled in or revegetated. The most significant physically and visually are the quarries at Boya and Greenmount, in particular Mountain Quarry at Boya, which has sheer rock faces used recreationally today for rock climbing, abseiling and as examples for geological studies.

History

For almost 100 years, quarries in the area now covered by the Shire of Mundaring were important contributors tot he transport and building activiites of Perth and other parts of the State. The most significant of these quarries were at Greenmount, Boya, Snith's Mill (Glen Forrest), Parkerville and mahogany Creek. The quarries supplied crushed granite for road making and rail ballast, rocks for harbour works and granite blocks or slabs for buildings. In other cases gravel (laterite) was mined and used principally for road making. In 1966, the last major granite quarry in the district to close was the one operated by Mucciarone Brothers in Coppin Road, north of Great eastern Highway. It was not granite, but gravel which first attracted the quarrymen to Mahogany Creek. In c.1885, pioneer Mundaring wine merchant Peter Gugeri had suggested to the Perth City Council that the hills contained good supplies of gravel. The first quarry near Mahogany Creek was operated from c.1900 by William Phillips and his manager Edward Ingram. Gravel was first extracted from the area south, east and west of the old Mahogany Creek railway siding. From 1904, granite was taken from nearby Flat Rock Quarry, and between 1914 and 1923, some was used on the colonnades of the east facade of the GPO building in Forrest Place perth. The quarry operated until 1933. South-east from Flat Rock Quarry and near Bourkes gully was another quarry. It was located near where Gill and Company had abandoned their millsite in 1900. Granite from this quarry was used to build the Mundaring Catholic Church if the Sacred Heart in 1933, and for extension in the 1950's. The quarries in Coppin Road north of Great eastern Highway included one operated by Peter and Gilles of Karrakatta Monumental Works. Granite from here and later the Mucciarone Brothers quarry was used for many buildings including the Hugo Throssell memorial, the Kings Park War Memorial, the Commonwealth Bank building cnr Forrest Place and Murray Street (1930-1933), and the 1962 award winning Council House in St Georges Terrace Perth.

Condition

Variable

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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