Piece of Moruya history heads to Canberra

A ten-tonne piece of Moruya’s history made its way to Canberra today when a large granite boulder was transported by truck to the National Rock Garden in Canberra.

The rock will take pride of place in the Garden, which displays large iconic rocks from all over Australia in five hectares of park-like grounds on the western shores of Lake Burley Griffin.

Moruya granite, or tonalite, was quarried in the 1920s and famously used to construct the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons and the Martin Place GPO.

The boulder was selected from Moruya granite quarry a few weeks ago by the Chair of the National Rock Museum, Professor Brad Pillans, Martin Bergs from Department of Public Works, Council’s construction coordinator Greg Knight and local amateur historian Norm Moore. Mr Moore was onsite today to watch the granite loaded.

Council had it’s float going to Canberra for another job and arranged to deliver the granite at no cost to the National Rock Garden. A crane lifted the granite out of the quarry and on to the float, taking around an hour to get safely into position and tied down.

According to the National Rock Garden website, Moruya tonalite was emplaced at a few kilometres depth within the Earth’s crust during the Middle to Late Devonian geological period. Subsequent erosion has exposed them at the surface.

Interpretative signage will be placed at the National Rock Garden describing the granite and its history and the connection to Moruya. Professor Pillans says an official unveiling will be held later this year.