Greenmount 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 State 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. As far as can be established, the first substantial quarry in the district was established by the Government in the 1870's on the western slopes of Greenmount Hill, near to what became the Greenmount railway siding. The quarries were worked by the convicts from the nearby depot; probably one at Stirling Road Greenmount, at the western end of what is now Pittersen Road. By 1880, quarters were built near the site, possibly for the supervisor Henry passmore. Blue grey granite was blasted from the rock face and a steam powered crusher reduced it to blue metal suitable for road base. Prior to this, oyster shells were used. In 1882, when work began on the second section of the Eastern Railway from Guildford to Chidlow's Well, Adelaide contractors James W Wright set up his main construction camp near Greenmount Quarry. By September 1882, the camp held 234 men, and it is likely that blue metal from the nearby quarry was used until 1893, when it was taken over by Alexander Forrest's Greenmount Quarrying Company Ltd. Company director and site manager William Burton also had interests in quarries at Parkerville and later, with Thomas Statham at Smith's Mill (Glen Forrest). The quarrymen's children were educated firstly at Clayton Farm and later at Smith's Mill School. In 1920, the company went into liquidation and leased the quarries to Greenmount Quarries Ltd, who boughtit in 1923. In 1926, they subdivided land between the quarry and Sctt Street (formerly Wilkie Road). The quarry closed during the depression.

Condition

Variable

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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