Statham's Quarry

Statham's Quarry, also known as Darling Range Quarry and Perth City Council's Darling Range Quarry, is a historic site located in Gooseberry Hill, Perth, Western Australia.

It is situated on the southern side of the entrance of the Helena River valley, within the bounds of the Gooseberry Hill National Park.

Established in 1894 by Thomas Statham and William Burton, Statham's Quarry is a rare example of a stone quarry that has preserved physical evidence of its operations. It played a significant role in the development of the quarry industry in Western Australia. After Statham's death, the quarry was operated by the Perth City Council and its materials were used for street paving in Perth. The quarry also supplied rocks for the groyne at City Beach. The clay quarry operation known as Statham's in Glen Forrest was associated with the original site. The quarry was serviced by the Kalamunda Zig Zag section of the Upper Darling Range Railway and was eventually closed due to a bushfire in 1957.

Currently, Statham's Quarry is a popular destination for rock climbing and abseiling. The Department of Parks and Wildlife has taken measures to ensure the safety of visitors by fencing off dangerous areas and providing signage. Climbing records indicate that the quarry is easily accessible, safe, and well-maintained, making it a convenient location for climbing and abseiling near Perth.

For reference, a map of Perth City Council's Darling Range Quarry (Statham's Quarry) is available. The map, created by M. W. Allen in 1928, displays the quarry face with contours, railway and sidings, buildings, fences, telephone lines, pipes, watercourses, and the boundary of the Perth City Council reserve.