Historical information
The quarry was part of John Butler Maling's property. He was one of the original settlers of the area and farmed the area between Weybridge Street and Whitehorse Road. Clay was quarried from part of this area and used to make the bricks used in the construction of his home, known as 'Ancyra'. This is still extant at the corner of Weybridge and James Streets. Maling grazed cows and used the quarry as a water source. He was the uncle of John Butler Maling, Mayor of Camberwell. He was married to Kate Conlon in 1882. They had 3 children: Silas Young, Alick and Zillah. Maling was born in c1829 in Shepreth, Cambridgeshire; he died in Surrey Hills on 9 October 1912 and is buried in Box Hill Cemetery - CE-*-0586.
Mrs Kate Maling (born c1859 in Co Meath, Ireland) died at the property on 8 March 1921. She is buried in Brighton General Cemetery. Probate was valued at over 10,000 pounds and included other properties in Sandringham, Hawthorn and Macedon. At the time of her death the Surrey Hills property was described as being 23 cres with 2 brick houses, 1 cow, 2 heifers and 40 fowls or chickens. The property was subdivided after her death.
The quarry was filled in after several drownings or near drownings and the land is now occupied by a park and playground maintained by the City of Boroondara. Beckett Park is sited on horizon to the left beyond the trees.
Significance
This documents the landscape prior to close settlement and is material to early building and farming in the Surrey Hills area.
Physical description
Black and white photo of the quarry between Grovedale Road and James Street taken in the 1920s and looking north. In the foreground is an area of water with high banks dividing the horizontal centre. Beyond are paddocks and trees behind which is a row of at least 3 single-storey houses. Light poles can be seen along a distant street. There are many mature trees in the background. The houses and trees are positioned along Whitehorse Road in the vicinity of Westminster Street. Shadows indicate the photo was taken in early morning or evening.
