Fitzroy City Council Quarry, later part Westfield Reserve, later Bluestone quarry, YARRA BEND PARK

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The following wording is from the John Patrick Landscape Citation, 1998 for the property. Please note that this is a "Landscape Citation", not a "Statement of Significance". For further information refer to the Landscape Citation held by the City of Yarra.

Landscape Citation, 1998

The Westfield Reserve, off Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield, has a remnant quarry face along the Merri Creek. The quarry was believed to have operated since the 1840s, and was accessed directly from Heidelberg Road.

The quarry is located on the bank of the Merri Creek. Quarrying activities have left sheer cliffs that are quite prominent from the western bank of the creek (Hall Reserve).

None noted. The creek is lined with Willows (Salix sp.) that are most likely weedy. They obscure the views from Hall Reserve to the quarry faces.

Westfield Park is of local interest as an example of an early and important industry along the Merri Creek, which offers considerable interpretive possibilities.

The following wording is from the Yarra Bend Conservation Plan, 1998 for the site. Please note that this is a "Citation", not a "Statement of Significance".

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The following wording is from the citation in the Yarra Bend Conservation Plan developed for Parks Victoria in 1998, and provided to Council as part of Amendment L78 to the Yarra Planning Scheme

Citation

Historical Summary

- A bluestone quarry was opened by the Fitzroy Council in the current Westfield reserve area, to supply material for roads and public buildings in the 1840's. A second quarry was later opened nearby by Heidelberg Council, though the poor quality of the stone soon saw it abandoned. Both these quarries have long since been filled in.

- A third relatively small quarry, cut into the steep escarpment of the merri Creek, was still operating in the 1920's. The remains of this quarry are those which are still visible today.

- This quarry was taken over by Heidelberg Council from the Dennis family who ran a road contracting business.

- The basalt in it was of very poor quality.

Summary of Significance

The quarry is of local interest as an example of an early and important industry along the Merri Creek.

Group

Mining and Mineral Processing

Category

Quarry