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Quarry
Duke Street; Berkshire Road, SUNSHINE VIC 3020 - Property No 101

All information on this page is maintained by Brimbank City. Click below for their website and contact details.
Brimbank City
1706 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1999
1706 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1999
1706 - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study 1999
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Statement of Significance

Of historical significance as one of the last remaining bluestone quarries in an area which was once Melbourne's leading producer of bluestone. The rock face indicates the depth of the stone, part of a volcanic plain which stretches for miles west of Melbourne and which is amongst the largest volcanic plains in the world.
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    • Physical Description 1

      Quarry - Physical Description 1

      One of the only remaining large bluestone quarries in the municipality of Brimbank (or the inner western suburbs). The deep steep-sided quarry hole is in two parts separated by Surrey Road, the eastward continuation of Berkshire Road. The northern section cuts into the escarpment of the Maribyrnong River valley (evidently offering the outcrop which formed the original surface workings). The excavation then follows a rather sinuous form, progressively deepening to the south with sheer walls on the east and west, stepped between terraced access tracks. The former line of Berkshire Road has been quarried away. South of Surrey Road is a deep rectangular hole bounded by Duke, Surrey and Cumberland Streets and the continuation of Middlesex Street. This is partially filled with water, and has access tracks on stepped terraces. Much of the spoil and waste rock of the northern part of the quarry system has been dumped over the edge of the escarpment and so has spilled down into the river valley. Some attempts have been made in recent years to remove this waste and rehabilitate the unstable slopes.

      Physical Conditions

      Quarry - Physical Conditions

      The crushing and loading plant has been dismantled, but the quarry itself has remained as left. Plans have been floated in recent years for filling, housing development and creation of park land utilising the cliff faces and deep holes as lakes and park land.

      Historical Australian Themes

      Quarry - Historical Australian Themes

      3 Developing local, regional and national economies
      3.4 Exploiting natural resources

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Brimbank - Brimbank City Council Post-contact Cultural Heritage Study

      Author: G. Vines
      Year: 2000
      Grading: Local

      Brimbank - Melbourne Western Region Industrial Heritage Study

      Author: G. Vines & A. Ward
      Year: 1989
      Grading:

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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