QUARRY:
BARE
“Strangers first visiting Sydney are often struck by the magnificence of our public buildings, the richness of their ornamentation, and the mellow tone of their colouring. These effects are due mainly to the material used in their construction, as the freestone of Sydney lends itself to the art of the stone-cutter, and in the beautiful climate of this Southern Hemisphere its tone mellows and grows rich with age, and seems to absorb into itself some of the brightness of the sun.”
‘Robert Saunders, Esquire’, in Australian Men of Mark, 1788 to 1888.
‘Robert Saunders, Esquire’, in Australian Men of Mark, 1788 to 1888.
JONES BAY -
“Residents of Point Street, Pyrmont, complaining of the nuisance they were subjected to and the damage caused to their properties by blasting operations carried out by the Harbour Trust workmen along the waterfront at Jones's Bay.
The Lord Mayer made representations to the Harbour Trust Commission on the matter with the view of having the complaint minimised by the use of smaller charges of explosive and greater care being taken.
The HTC have complied with the request.”
“Residents of Point Street, Pyrmont, complaining of the nuisance they were subjected to and the damage caused to their properties by blasting operations carried out by the Harbour Trust workmen along the waterfront at Jones's Bay.
The Lord Mayer made representations to the Harbour Trust Commission on the matter with the view of having the complaint minimised by the use of smaller charges of explosive and greater care being taken.
The HTC have complied with the request.”
- BLASTING IN JONES BAY in Evening News 6th June 1913.
CSR - 1877
GLEBE ISLAND - 1889
“At Glebe Island quarry, stone is being removed by the government for the purpose of making an approach in a new bridge between Balmain and Pyrmont. Hitherto rackarock has been used for blasting there, with satisfactory results, it was sought to see what could be done with kallenite as a matter of comparison. The experiment was carried out under direction of Mr. T. E. Burrowes, of the Harbours and Rivers Department, who has charge of the works. Fifty pounds weight of kallenite having been inserted into the bottoms of the four holes drilled downwards from a ledge high up thc side of a stone cliff, it was discharged by electricity, and straightway, with merely a slight incidental report, 200 cubic yards of rock suddenly broke out and fell forward into fragments. There was little, if any, upheaval. The movement seemed similar to that of a landslip, and no fumes or smoke were discernible. lt is presumed that the new explosive can be sold cheaply because its absorbent material basis is composed of eucalyptus and ti-trees leaves, which are almost valueless. Moreover, these leaves are themselves converted into explosives when incorporated in kallenite.”
- THE NEW AUSTRALIAN EXPLOSIVE: TEST AT GLEBE ISLAND in Morning Bulletin 18th January, 1889.
DARLING ISLAND - 1885
CSR - 1877
GLEBE ISLAND - 1889
“At Glebe Island quarry, stone is being removed by the government for the purpose of making an approach in a new bridge between Balmain and Pyrmont. Hitherto rackarock has been used for blasting there, with satisfactory results, it was sought to see what could be done with kallenite as a matter of comparison. The experiment was carried out under direction of Mr. T. E. Burrowes, of the Harbours and Rivers Department, who has charge of the works. Fifty pounds weight of kallenite having been inserted into the bottoms of the four holes drilled downwards from a ledge high up thc side of a stone cliff, it was discharged by electricity, and straightway, with merely a slight incidental report, 200 cubic yards of rock suddenly broke out and fell forward into fragments. There was little, if any, upheaval. The movement seemed similar to that of a landslip, and no fumes or smoke were discernible. lt is presumed that the new explosive can be sold cheaply because its absorbent material basis is composed of eucalyptus and ti-trees leaves, which are almost valueless. Moreover, these leaves are themselves converted into explosives when incorporated in kallenite.”
- THE NEW AUSTRALIAN EXPLOSIVE: TEST AT GLEBE ISLAND in Morning Bulletin 18th January, 1889.
DARLING ISLAND - 1885
PURGATORY - 0000
““The appearance of Pyrmont is very unprepossessing from the complete absence of all trees and from the bareness of the sandstone rocks exposed cut away by many large quarries, which supply the largest part of the stone used for building purposes in Sydney.
[...]
I reached the better part of the Glebe & Glebe Point, comprising in former days it would appear that almost all the trees in this neighbourhood of Sydney were cut down for firewood; hence the intolerably bare and unpicturesque appearance of many parts of the town, strongly contrasted with those few parts such as the Glebe point, Domain, Barcom Glen where the tall & somewhat elegant gum trees yet stand. Trees too are of some sanitary importance & affording shelter from the fierce summer sun.”
- William Stanely Jevons, ‘Remarks upon the Social Map of Sydney, 1858’
““The appearance of Pyrmont is very unprepossessing from the complete absence of all trees and from the bareness of the sandstone rocks exposed cut away by many large quarries, which supply the largest part of the stone used for building purposes in Sydney.
[...]
I reached the better part of the Glebe & Glebe Point, comprising in former days it would appear that almost all the trees in this neighbourhood of Sydney were cut down for firewood; hence the intolerably bare and unpicturesque appearance of many parts of the town, strongly contrasted with those few parts such as the Glebe point, Domain, Barcom Glen where the tall & somewhat elegant gum trees yet stand. Trees too are of some sanitary importance & affording shelter from the fierce summer sun.”
- William Stanely Jevons, ‘Remarks upon the Social Map of Sydney, 1858’
HELL HOLE - 1860
“the little lake so formed was a source of attraction for bathers, generally on Saturdays and Sundays, the boys would have great fun in the water, on scaffold planks, and there would be great sport racing across, no fence of barricade would keep them out, and though warned so often of the dangerous parts, the boys would be somewhat fascinated by the dangerous spots and take sometimes fatal risks.”
- ‘A Great Quarry-Master: The Experiences of Robert Saunders of Sydney’ Building Magazine, issue 12, December, 1917.
“the little lake so formed was a source of attraction for bathers, generally on Saturdays and Sundays, the boys would have great fun in the water, on scaffold planks, and there would be great sport racing across, no fence of barricade would keep them out, and though warned so often of the dangerous parts, the boys would be somewhat fascinated by the dangerous spots and take sometimes fatal risks.”
- ‘A Great Quarry-Master: The Experiences of Robert Saunders of Sydney’ Building Magazine, issue 12, December, 1917.
PARADISE - 1853
“During the last three years the Harbour and Rivers Department has been actively engaged in filling up the Blackwattle Swamp, which adjoins Glebe and Pyrmont. The open sewer, the recent cause of expensive litigation to the Sydney Municipal Council, has been newly constructed at a great cost to the Government, and the drainage of the surrounding neighbourhood rendered perfect. Nearly two hundred acres of land have been reclaimed, and raised about two feet above the reach of the tide. In order to effect this extensive work, hundreds of labourers with their carts have been engaged for upwards of eighteen months, carting earth and stores from the Pyrmont quarries on to the ground which for many years, constituted a pestiferous swamp.
[...]
What was a grievous eyesore is now rapidly assuming a pleasant reserve suitable for a park or recreation reserve.”
- BLACKWATTLE SWAMP in Evening News, 4th July 1877.
“During the last three years the Harbour and Rivers Department has been actively engaged in filling up the Blackwattle Swamp, which adjoins Glebe and Pyrmont. The open sewer, the recent cause of expensive litigation to the Sydney Municipal Council, has been newly constructed at a great cost to the Government, and the drainage of the surrounding neighbourhood rendered perfect. Nearly two hundred acres of land have been reclaimed, and raised about two feet above the reach of the tide. In order to effect this extensive work, hundreds of labourers with their carts have been engaged for upwards of eighteen months, carting earth and stores from the Pyrmont quarries on to the ground which for many years, constituted a pestiferous swamp.
[...]
What was a grievous eyesore is now rapidly assuming a pleasant reserve suitable for a park or recreation reserve.”
- BLACKWATTLE SWAMP in Evening News, 4th July 1877.
THRUPPS - 1850
“It is recorded that 8,000 tons of stone were used on the fort. This stone was taken from Thrupp's quarry at Kurraba Point, Neutral Bay. The walls of the fort are between 11 and 12 feet thick at the base and nine feet at the top.”
- THE STORY OF FORT DENISON in The Sunday Herald 10th December 1950.