Granite Town: Honoring a Legacy Carved in Stone

November 18 2024 marks 100 years since the start of Granite Town – the epicenter of a massive quarrying operation, supplying granite for the imposing pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

John Gilmore quarrymaster with his wife Mary and 9 children.

Moruya’s granite gained nationwide attention in the 1920s, when it was chosen for construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Though purely decorative, the granite became a defining feature of an icon now recognised around the world. To achieve the mammoth task, Moruya saw an influx of quarry workers, stonemasons, and their families from Scotland, Italy as well as Australia – and Granite Town was born.

Granite Town workers and families with cottages in background – 1926.

Scottish master stonemason John Gilmore was appointed as quarrymaster by Dorman & Long, the Bridge contractors. The Gilmore family arrived in Moruya on 11 November 1924, and the quarrymaster immediately set his mind to the task ahead. The first sod was turned a week later on November 18 1924.

The township was developed under the guidance of Lawrence Ennis, a fellow Scot and director of construction for the Bridge. Drawing on his experience with planned communities in the northern hemisphere, Ennis oversaw the creation of a unique, purpose-built multicultural settlement – the first of its kind in Australia.

Moruya granite quarry – workers cutting the stone blocks used to face the piers and pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

At its peak, the quarry employed 250 workers, offering rare job security in rural Australia during a challenging economic period. Granite Town was a thriving and well-equipped settlement, featuring 72 cottages, bachelors’ quarters, a school, a community hall, a co-op store, a post office, and even a swimming pool. The quarry and adjacent settlement was powered by its own dedicated electricity station.

Over seven years, workers cut 173,000 granite blocks to face the Bridge’s piers and pylons, and produced 152,910 cubic meters of crushed stone for aggregate fill. This ambitious project provided a critical economic boost, helping to shield Moruya from the worst effects of the looming Great Depression.

By 1931, the work was finished, and Granite Town faded almost as quickly as it had emerged. Most of the small cottages were sold and relocated, with only one remaining on the original site. While many workers returned to their homes, some, including John Gilmore and his family, chose to stay and build new lives in the area.

Granite Town’s story lives on through personal accounts and dedicated historians:

Bob Colefax started as a clerk in December 1924 and later published his memoirs, offering a firsthand view of life in the quarry town.
Christine Greig, John Gilmore’s great-granddaughter, has preserved family stories and written extensively on Granite Town’s unique culture and history.
Bill Glennie, a retired Scottish history teacher, conducted detailed research on the Scottish stonemasons, the “quarry Scotties,” who helped build the town.
Shirley Jurmann, a local historian with family ties to granite mining, has added to our understanding of Granite Town’s impact on the region.

Quaary Park was established by Rotary and Skillshare in 2002 to promote the story of Granite Town. A monument to Granite Town was established in Moruya’s Apex Park in 2004. Moruyas Granite Quarries are also listed as National Engineering Heritage.

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