Nearly business as usual

JOHN HARDY YARRABEE & CASTLEMAINE STONE SOLUTIONS

What a challenge we are all facing - but doesn’t it once again make us thankful we live in what truly is the lucky country!

We are doing what we can to keep the country working with operations at the Castlemaine Slate & Stone Quarry flowing along sweetly - albeit under strict social distancing rules.

This iconic quarry was first mined in 1953 by Ray & Aileen Maltby. Crazy paving and dry-stone walling were the main products produced during these years and it wasn’t long before this unique granitic sandstone quickly became an icon of the Victorian stone industry.

In those early years, the equipment comprised a pick and shovel, a bolster and mash hammer and an old frontend loader. Over the quarry’s first 40 odd years, an excavator and large tipper were added but it was still very much manual labour producing the stone.

The “vein” is a narrow strip only about 15m wide which falls deeper into the earth as it buries into the mountain making extraction a constant challenge. So, to aid this extraction, we invested in additional and larger excavators and other equipment when we took over the quarry in 2005. We now have a more consistent supply of raw material for the boys to work. There is one narrow strip within the vein which is “pink” in colour. The rest of the vein is a consistent “Castlemaine Slate” colour of beige, browns, rusts and ochres. The pink vein is very rarely exposed, and that material is kept separate from the standard Castlemaine stone.

To this day, the stone is still hand split and sorted into thickness variations of up to 10mm, meaning that the random paving is supplied in 10-20mm, 20-30mm 30-40mm thickness lots etc. The thickness selected is based on the application.

There are now four different walling stone products, the various thickness random paving options plus selected stepping stones, garden rocks, feature landscape rocks and slabs available in this stone. This is done to enable a consistency of stone product throughout a project.

Despite the additional equipment, production of Castlemaine Slate & Stone products remains a very “hands on” process. And you’d be amazed how quickly new “splitters” learn not to hit their fingers on a cold Castlemaine morning!!

Whilst we are still delivering, demand is down in these uncertain times, so stock is accumulating.

We are aiming at being in a great position to supply what is needed, when it’s needed, once things come back to some form of normality.

We can also report that our international suppliers are all operating so supply of natural stone to the landscape and construction industries is for the moment secure.

We are using our down time to revamp our displays in the Showroom with the addition of 6 stunning new limestones and a couple of new wall claddings while on lock down. Now that restrictions have been lifted somewhat, it would be a great time to come in and have a look.

In the meantime- from all at Yarrabee & Castlemaine Stone Solutions- hang in there, play by the rules and stay well!!