Historical information

In the early 1900s black marble was being mined in the Bruthen district. Some was used for the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and Australia House in London. 900 tonnes were shipped to London to be included in the construction of Australia House.
This photograph shows the last 120 ton slab to be used to complete the sixteen dark Buchan marble Ionic columns in the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. The Shrine of Remembrance was created to meet the needs of a grieving community after the extensive loss of lives in the First World War (1914 –18).

Significance

Marble quarrying has been a significant part of the history of Buchan in East Gippsland. Its inclusion in the Shrine of Remembrance War Memorial is noteworthy.

Physical description

A black / white photograph mounted on a soiled grey buff card. It shows a man standing in front of a large vertical slab of marble.

Inscriptions & markings

on front - " 120 tons in this piece. The final 6 columns for the Shrine of Remembrance were cut from it."