Age: 235–247 million years, Middle Triassic
Location: Pyrmont, Sydney
Formation: Middle Triassic braided rivers carried vast quantities of quartz-rich sands, from the south and west, into what is now the Sydney region. The sands compacted and hardened to become an extensive sandstone formation.
Significance: Hawkesbury Sandstone dominates the scenery around Sydney. Its surface preserves many Aboriginal carvings and paintings. This ‘quarry block’ is from near the ‘Paradise’ Quarry, one of the most famous 19th century quarries in Pyrmont, which supplied ‘yellow block’ sandstone for the construction of many landmark historic buildings in NSW.
Donated by: The Government of New South Wales.
Read more: https://www.nationalrockgarden.com.au/rock-collection/hawkesbury-sandstone/
