The Stonemason’s Lathe

PERMANENT display: MUSEUM GARDEN

The Abernethy Stonemason’s Lathe is a rare surviving piece of Victorian-era machinery, possibly unique outside Europe. It now resides in a covered outdoor display, accessed from the Moruya Museum grounds. This is a story not only about a unique example of 19th-century technology but also about the dedicated community that fought to preserve it.

This massive twin bed lathe was crafted in 1881 at Aberdeen by J. Abernethy and Co. before being transported to Sydney. Its purpose was to shape Moruya granite into exquisite, polished columns for some of Sydney’s most majestic buildings. Notable structures that owe their beauty to Moruya granite include the Sydney General Post Office, the Queen Victoria Building, and even the granite pedestal for the Queen Victoria statue in Queen’s Square, Sydney.

It is not known for certain whether the lathe was ever situated near the main source of granite at Moruya, or whether it was always located in Sydney. Nevertheless, what remains crystal clear is its pivotal role in shaping Moruya granite—a stone that adorned many of Sydney’s iconic buildings. The lathe played an indispensable part in adding elegance and grandeur to the city, permanently woven into Sydney’s rich architectural history.

From Sydney to Forbes: A Journey Through Time

The last use of the lathe was at Loveridge and Hudson’s yard in Sydney in the 1960s. Fortunately, its story did not end there. In the late 1970s it was donated to the Lachlan Vintage Village Heritage Theme park at Forbes, NSW. But a decade later in 1987, the Village owners sold it to a local scrap metal business.

The impending demise of the lathe came to the notice of heritage enthusiasts including the National Trust, who understood its significance and the issue came to the attention of the NSW government. The NSW Heritage Council then purchased the lathe, which continued to reside in the Theme Park.

A Rescued Heritage

When Lachlan Vintage Village verged on collapse, the lathe was once again in jeopardy. After a lengthy period of negotiation, the Heritage Council handed the lathe over to the Eurobodalla Shire Council for long-term preservation and display. The Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association (MATAMA) stepped in relocated the lathe from Forbes to its current site in Moruya, and painstakingly restored it to its former glory.

This precious piece of history is now preserved for generations to come

Read more about the Stonemason’s Lathe:

• Moruya Antique Tractor and Machinery Association (MATAMA)
• Abernethy and Co Stonemason’s Lathe – Wikipedia

Read more about Moruya Granite Quarries:

• The Historic Legacy of Moruya Granite Quarries