Moruya Granite Quarry
The Moruya quarries and the remains of Granite Town are, except for Loutitt’s Quarry, located on the left (northern) bank of the Moruya River. The quarries have been used for production of granite for various purposes - monumental stone, dimension stone, granite rubble for building, and large stone for breakwater construction, from at least 1864.
The central item in this area is the NSW Government’s (Public Works Department’s) granite quarry. It was first developed in 1878 for the construction of the Moruya northern breakwater and has been operated intermittently since that time, to supply stone for river improvement and maintenance works.
The quarry is best known as the source of the granite facing for the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons. Granite Town was established in 1926 by Dorman Long & Co (the contractor for the Sydney Harbour Bridge) to house the over 200 masons and other granite workers and their families, it recruited from Scotland, Italy and other countries.
Surrounding the actual quarry site there are numerous relics associated with its operation: these include machinery and masonry shed footings, the breakwater and river training structures, the tramway and stone dressing area earthworks, remains of locomotive service facilities, and relics of water transport facilities (including various wharfs) from several periods. There are also relics of two separate worker housing facilities.
The story of the ships which brought the granite from Moruya to Sydney is told at: Shipping Granite from Moruya.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Engineering Heritage Marker (EHM) |
| Award Date | 11 March 2017 |
| Heritage Significance | Moruya Quarry is the source of granite for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and may other important Sydney structures. |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet | Not available. |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel | Available here. |
