Quarry site’s long history

IN THE late 1800s, basalt was quarried from the cliff that became Picnic Point waterfall. Today that area could be viewed as a mini-prototype for the proposed Bridge Street Quarry Gardens Development.

In the 1920s, Queensland University declared interest in Bridge St Quarry volcanic features and a scientific reserve was created within the quarry, only to be revoked by Department of Lands in 1969.

Quarrying ceased in 1994 and in 1995 a meeting of Toowoomba City Council (TCC) Special Policy Committee received a motion that:

The council no longer required the quarry site for the purpose gazetted (extractive industry),

The council invite public submissions on possible future uses for the site,

The council call public meetings to discuss the submissions and meet with the Lands Department to discuss possible uses.

Goolburri Land Council proposed development as an Aboriginal Cultural and Education Centre; also proposed was construction of an “International Garden”, in keeping with Toowoomba as The Garden City.

GLC was offered an alternative site for its project and in 1996 Howard Hobbs, Minister for Lands, approved the International Gardens proposal.

A TCC working party was set up to progress that concept.

In January 2001, the TCC obtained freehold title to 13.77 ha (the quarried area); remaining quarry land was absorbed into Jubilee Park. The TCC commissioned consultants Hassell Pty Ltd to undertake a feasibility study for development of an International Gardens.

In 2003, TCC released plans for a $60m quarry redevelopment to be known as etopia, “nature’s own living museum”.

In 1996, Frank van Schagen, DNR regional service director, correctly observed that without funding the Bridge St Quarry site could still be just a “big hole in the ground in 20 years time”.

What will the site be like in 2038?