Glen Forrest Quarries

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 to the 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. From c. 1883, laterite or gravel for use in road building was extracted from the area around Smith's Mill (the name for Glen Forrest until 1915). It was used as a road base instead of crushed shells or jarrah blocks. William and george Burkinshaw operated gravel quarries in the vicinity if what is now Burkinshaw Drive. Some ten years later, orchardist WH McGle operated gravel pits from the area adjacent to the railway reserve and McGlew Road. The importance of the gravel trade to Smith's Mill can be gauged from the fact that 7154 tonnes left the station between October and November 1893. In the late 1890's, east of what is now Hardy Road and adjacent to the eastern Railway, the WA Gravel Company, headed by Thomas Statham and William Burton operated another gravel pit until 1907. The gravel pit was close to Statham and Burton's Darling Range Quarries, Fire brick and Gravel Company clay pit which operated until the late 1960's. A granite quarry called 'Spanney's' was also located 300m of the east side/end of what is now Glen Forrest drive and stone from here was said to have been turned for columns on the front of the former 'Shell House' (demolished) in St George's Terrace Perth.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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