Statham’s Quarry

In 1894, English-born businessman Thomas Statham teamed up with William Burton to establish a quarry in Gooseberry Hill, an area known for its rich granite hills and sweeping views. Statham, who migrated to Australia in the late 1880s, quickly became involved in many commercial enterprises. One of his earliest and most enduring legacies was the quarry that would later bear his name.

 

Statham’s Quarry produced granite and diorite—two types of hard, durable stone used extensively in construction. While granite is known for its strength and versatility, diorite, with its distinctive salt-and-pepper appearance, has a long history of use as a decorative stone dating back to ancient times. Made up of a mix of basalt and granite, diorite is commonly used in road building, foundations, tiles and other construction materials.

 

In August 1920, the City of Perth purchased the quarry for £8,000, recognising its value as a source of building stone. Quarrying operations continued until 1957, when a devastating bushfire made the site inoperable.

 

Today, remnants of the old operation still stand—graffitied brick and concrete crushing plant structures, tanks, concrete flooring, a powder magazine and parts of the original spur railway line are still visible. That spur line, originally used by the Canning Jarrah Timber Company, has now been converted into a scenic walking trail along the north side of Zig Zag Road.

 

In addition to running his quarry, Statham became the Managing Director of the Darling Range Quarry, Fire Brick and Gravel Company in 1899, though the business dissolved within a year. He later served as a committee member for the Western Australia Deaf and Dumb Institution in 1899, which was tasked with establishing a school in Cottesloe, a member of the Darling Range Road Board (1899–1902) and was elected a City of Perth councillor in 1903.

 

Thomas Statham passed away in 1920, leaving behind a legacy quite literally set in stone.