Historical information

Albion Quarry began operations in 1888, and became one of the largest bluestone quarries in Australia, later it became the Sunshine municipal tip.

In 1888, quarrying first began on the site by the Wales family. The quarry extracted high quality bluestone, ideal for road construction, railway ballast, culverts, bridges and public buildings and private homes. The site quickly became one of the most productive basalt quarries in the region.

In 1907, the Albion Quarry Company was formed as a partnership between Alexander Wales, James Watter, Peter Rumpf, Thomas Adams, William Wright Wales and Alexander George Wales (later Sir George Wales, Lord Mayor of Melbourne)

The company became the largest producer of quarry products in the Commonwealth. The quarry pit was, at one time, the largest in Australia.

In January 1965, Boral acquired both Albion Quarry and Reid Quarry, merging them into Albion Reid Pty Ltd. Quarrying there continued until the late 1960s–early 1970s.

After quarrying ceased, the enormous pit was used as the Sunshine municipal tip.

Dumped into the hole included household waste, industrial waste, chemical waste, radioactive waste and large quantities of unknown fill. Dumping continued until 1990.

In the 1990’s, a methane powered electricity plant was installed on the site, but it failed due to insufficient methane production.

In 2019, the former quarry made national news due to ground contamination affecting 69 residential homes, 6 commercial properties and a community park.

The site is now being reserved for the future Sunshine Energy Park and is awaiting redevelopment.

This quarry is historically significant for its scale, its role in Melbourne’s infrastructure, and its later environmental legacy.

Significance

These photographs document the initial phase of quarrying, featuring manual labour and transportation by horse and cart.

Physical description

Digital black & white photographs

Inscriptions & markings

Albion basalt quarry