A UK BBC film crew left no stone unturned when they visited Moruya to film for a documentary set to be broadcast to millions about the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Part of a series about the greatest bridges in the world, the Channel5 London crew learned about how the bridge’s pylons were constructed from granite meticulously masoned in Moruya and then transported by ship down the River and to Sydney by sea.
Still working today, the historic Moruya Quarry was opened for the weekend, with stonemasons replicating the process of splitting and working the stone for the camera. Former quarry manager Scott Renwick was interviewed on site and provided valuable technical information.
Council’s Tourism Marketing Coordinator Kerrie-Anne Benton said the crew was in town for two days filming by seaplane, drone and conventional hand-held cameras.
“The engineering feat was one thing but they were also interested in the human element and the connection of the quarry workers to their homelands in Italy and the UK,” Ms Benton said.
“The crew went on a local voyage of discovery looking for remnants of Granite Town, built to house the workers, and visited one of the old cottages that was relocated to Moruya Heads.
“They also interviewed Christine Grieg-Adams, whose great-grandfather John Gilmore was quarry manager from 1924 to 1931.”
Ms Benton said the filming was a tremendous collaboration between Council, Crown Lands staff, business and locals.
“More than 20 people across Council, Crown Lands and the public helped contribute to the project,” she said.
“It was a great success and will showcase Moruya to a potential audience of several million later in the year in the UK and then in Australia next year.”
The granite blocks masoned for filming will be used to further enhance Moruya’s Quarry Park, opposite the old quarry on North Head Road.
The park has undergone a major upgrade over the past year and is proving popular with tourists and locals as a place to have a picnic, read stories of the quarry operations and capture photographs of the picturesque river.
Above: BBC’s Channel5 London crew visited Moruya on the weekend to film for a documentary about the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
