Briggs Quarry (fmr)

Statement of Significance

The site of one of Briggs [T. H. Briggs & T. Hawley] Cottesloe quarries and the headquarters for these J operations. Quarrying and lime burning were major operations in the district for many years.

Physical Description

The Council Depot former Briggs Quarry The hole in the ground is the site of the former Briggs & Co Quarry. It now houses council sheds and maintenance equipment.

History

Mr Harvey a lime bumer from SA & Broken Hill was foreman. The site once extended from Napier to north of Eric Street - subsections 30,31,36,36 and 23 between Marmion and Broome. Commencing c 1892 it was sold to Bunnings in 1899 and traded as Briggs & Co. T. Hawley continued to manage it until 1908 when the limestone was exhausted and the company disbanded. In 1909 Good who had a quarry and Bunnings owned the land. A quarryman still lived opposite on the comer of Napier and Marmion streets. 70 men were employed before 1914. Briggs and Co had 45 acres 7 lime kilns and three quarries. Some activity went on here at a later date. 85 men were employed in the quarries as part of the Great Depression financial emergency under a scheme called Employment Relief Scheme set up to help locals who were unemployed. They could work their rates out and earn a little more besides. Many spent their time filling in the old quarries. Cottesloe stone which has great accoustic properties has been used for a number of important buildings in Western Australia including lining Winthrop Hall at UWA. Exactly which site produced the Cottesloe stone has not been established in this research. This is the only remaining quarry site that vaguely resembles the original use. Buildings constructed using Cottesloe stone reputedly include Government House, Old Royal Perth Hospital, the Weld Club, Fire Brigade Headquarters in Murray Street, His Majesty's Hotel, Shaftesbury Hotel, St Mary's Cathedral, Christian Brothers College [since demolished] and residences such a Pennefather's. "Cut and squared by hand labour into "shoddies", this cream coloured limestone was easy to cut when new, turned grey and considerably hardened with age. ... In what is now the Council depot, two continuous lime kilns 60 ft. deep were tuming out 100 bags a day. From 1892-1908, four lime kilns operated in Marmion Street between Napier and Clarendon streets and three where Nailsworth Street is, producing 2,000 bags a week. Quarries at Eric and Hawkestone Streets produced 60-70 cubic yards of lime and stone dailv making a full train load for Perth." Jean Lang "The Cottesloe Story " Ms. T.J. Briggs, "Life and Experiences of a Successful West Australian" 1917 p 13 on the lime kilns, the stone was taken from wherever suited in Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove in the 1870s, burnt in the kilns and the the lime then used for many of the old buildings in Perth and Fremantle

Condition

Site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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