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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/08/hornsby-park-redevelopment-sydney-quarry-extinct-volcano-bushland>
"I’m a denizen of the inner city, more used to plane trees than eucalypts. But
Hornsby Park won me over immediately.
A highlight is the heritage steps, which stretch for about 1km, connecting
Hornsby pool at one end and the Great North Walk at the other. Constructed in
the 1930s, they traverse through the new park that opened earlier this year at
the site of an old quarry abandoned since 2003.
The stairs are steep in parts, but provide perfect access for a sun-mottled
walk through fern groves and blue gums that grip the volcanic soil. Lorikeets,
rosellas and kookaburras are flitting about when I visit.
The first stage of Hornsby Park opened in March. The main attraction is, of
course, the quarry itself. A remnant of its working history remains in the form
of an old crusher plant, fenced off from would-be climbers. Then there’s a new
red metal viewing platform that’s stunning – even in a city famous for its
vistas.
Jutting out 14 metres above the ground below, the 42-metre-long platform draws
in visitors who can then look down to the turquoise water filling the lower
level of the quarry.
“Oh wow, this is lovely,” a woman says when
Guardian Australia visited last
week. “One day, you might be able to swim in it?”
One day, perhaps. But for now, Hornsby council says: “The quarry void and lake
are not currently accessible to the public. Any future consideration of
swimming would require careful assessment of community safety, access and
funding, including advocacy to state and federal governments.”
Sydney’s newest bushland park, on the city’s upper north shore, is on 60
hectares and offers a peaceful retreat just 10 minutes on foot from the local
train station, which will eventually service 6,000 new homes.
It sits atop an ancient volcano on Dharug and GuriNgai country. The former
industrial site has been revegetated with the quarry walls stabilised."
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
