Local bluestone globally recognised
Rock star! Malmsbury Bluestone officially recognised as a Global Heritage Stone Resource (GHSR), sharing the designation with over 40 other stones from around the world.
In a first for Australia, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) has accepted the recommendation of their Heritage Stones Sub-commission (HSS) that the nomination of Malmsbury Bluestone be approved.
The nomination was lodged by Malmsbury Historical Society’s President, Dr Susan Walter. The GHSR designation is reserved for stones that have achieved widespread utilisation in human culture.
To be accepted, stones must have been used as a building material for 50 or more years, in several continents in significant private, public and industrial projects, and have recognised cultural significance. Malmsbury Bluestone has been used in VIC, TAS, SA, WA, NSW and New Zealand and some shipments went to Calcutta in India.
The durability and workability of the stone made it suitable for a wide range of purposes, from drains, kerbs, pavements, lintels and steps, to base courses of multi-story buildings, and ornate bank doorways. The Malmsbury railway viaduct, and St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne are but two of many notable examples.
The IUGS has also requested that Dr Walter sends a prepared sample of the stone to the Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources in Berlin, Germany, to add to their 150-year-old collection of natural building stones.
This is currently being prepared with the co-operation and support of an owner of one of the former quarries, and Kyneton’s local stonemason, Huntly Barton. Mr Barton’s business, Wm Thos. Jones Stonemasons, has a long historical connection with Malmsbury bluestone. William Jones established the business in Malmsbury in the 1890s, having learnt the trade from his father, John Jones, who arrived in Malmsbury in 1862.
The long-term benefits of this designation will partly be determined by how locals, and members of the history, heritage and planning professions, at local, state and national levels respond to this news.
Many Malmsbury bluestone sites have already been demolished over a long period of time. Our local rural uses of bluestone are especially at risk, having almost no heritage protection. Even the former quarry sites, where stone may one day need to be extracted for restoration or repair work, have no heritage protection.
The basic level of heritage protection which protects some surviving structures doesn’t even acknowledge its presence. Our stone is something we can all be proud of and deserves both preservation and celebration.
