Hornsby Quarry was operated by private businesses from the early 1900s until 2002, when it became unprofitable and Hornsby Shire Council was legally obliged to buy it from CSR Limited.

A decision by the Valuer-General meant the council was forced to pay more than $25 million for the site of Hornsby Quarry, though Council was able to recover $9 million during later legal proceedings.

Hornsby Quarry is historically valuable, ecologically important and visually spectacular – all within walking distance of Hornsby’s CBD. It is well-known as “the largest volcanic diatreme in...Read More

Hornsby Quarry was operated by private businesses from the early 1900s until 2002, when it became unprofitable and Hornsby Shire Council was legally obliged to buy it from CSR Limited.

A decision by the Valuer-General meant the council was forced to pay more than $25 million for the site of Hornsby Quarry, though Council was able to recover $9 million during later legal proceedings.

Hornsby Quarry is historically valuable, ecologically important and visually spectacular – all within walking distance of Hornsby’s CBD. It is well-known as “the largest volcanic diatreme in the Sydney area”.

Especially significant is the east face that provides a cross-section of the diatreme, which is seen at only a few sites in the region.

The bushland on the site is also significant and includes blue gum high forest, which is listed as an endangered ecological community.

The Higgins family cemetery is also located on the site and is listed as a heritage item of state significance, with burials ranging from 1875 to 1925.

The 100-metre-deep pit looks set to receive up to 1.5 million cubic metres of dirt and rock spoil from the construction of the NorthConnex motorway tunnel.

The proposal was approved on the 18th of Jury 2016 and the the project would support Hornsby Shire Council’s plan to rehabilitate the Hornsby Quarry site into a recreational facility for the local and regional community. Read less