After a number of complaints, Bathurst Municipal Council finally agreed to fix the footpath on the east side of Russell Street between William and Bentinck streets.

It was levelled and gravelled, the latter coming from Bathurst Gaol. The job was approved at the council’s August 1887 meeting and completed in September, costing £5, some of which was paid to the gaol.

The earliest quarries in the Bathurst district were worked with hammers, picks and chisels and they used horses and wooden sleds to carry the rock to where it was required.

Horse-drawn carts and tip carts were used later, such as the one to the right of our photo. Quarries were located around Bathurst as well as just out of town.

Trucks were introduced later, along with drilling equipment, blasting powder and other hauling equipment.

A heavy fall of earth occurred at the George Street gravel pit in September 1887 just as one of the workmen had moved away from the spot.

Contractors working for the council had to shovel the gravel and throw it on to the two-wheeled drays or carts which were drawn by one or two horses. One cart was considerably broken up and a horse had a leg smashed by the debris, which weighed about 100 tons.

Her Majesty’s Gaol at Bathurst was paid £1-0-14 by Bathurst Council in January 1888 for “breaking stone” during the previous December.

A stone crusher was placed at Bald Hills in July 1892, speeding up the work. Any excess rock could be stored elsewhere, including on vacant blocks around Bathurst.

By August 1894, Alderman Dr W.P. Bassett, who had temporarily been appointed mayor while Mayor Walker was away in America for three months, faced complaints about the Market Building.

In November, the council discussed ideas to improve this situation. Another problem was that the council used part of the Market Building land to store road metal, steel poles, earthenware pipes and other materials.

The council meeting of November 14 considered a plan involving the removal of the spaced paling fence, having fewer entrances by closing the William Street entrance, planting more trees and creating arboreal walks. The council would also remove the piles of gravel.

In 1909, the council called for tenders to cart gravel. By mid-June, town clerk D.F.W. Ferness called tenders for various carting jobs from Bald Hills, one being for 200 yards of metal screening to be delivered to the Corporation Gas Works.

Another job that year was to deliver stone for the stone and cement crossing being made in Howick Street, over the Vale Creek, at a cost of £30.

Turon Shire Council president Mr H.C. Suttor, with councillors Wark and Hodge and the engineer Mr A.A. Patterson, visited Orange in 1910 to inspect the Canobolas Shire road-making machinery with a view to obtaining a plant for the Turon Shire.

The engineer was subsequently instructed to order a £2000 road-making plant. 

The eight-horsepower Fowler traction engine was to be supplied from Mr Nooks and a Hadfield stone crusher was to be supplied through J.B. Wallis & Co, Sydney.

Bathurst Council’s quarry and crushing plant was placed in order again and brought into reuse in late 1912.

Aldermen had already instructed the council’s engineer to ascertain what the problems were and have it fixed if the cost was not prohibitive.