Off the main road opposite Bexhill Primary school and adjacent to the local bus stop is a gravel parking lot. En-route to Bangalow or Byron, Lismore locals may just drive straight pass. On a closer look, that gravel enclave hosts more cars during the summer months.

Beyond the red-dirt driveway (not recommended for driving) lies a hidden spring fed waterhole touted as a top Hinterland beauty spot. This is the old Bexhill Quarry Brickworks – in operation from the 1890’s -1980’s. In the early 2004’s it was fenced and left abandoned. The quarry slowly filled with spring water tinted by the quarry’s minerals and metals (copper, aluminium, zinc and magnesium).

An azure swimming hole manifested in the empty quarry hollow. The result is a hyper-blue-lagoon-like body of water surrounded by 30m high cathedral-esque cliffs on one side, and grassland the other side. 

Hashtags on social media platforms have made The Quarry ‘Insta-famous’(globally known). The small hidden gem for locals has become an Instagramable must see when visiting the Northern Rivers.  

Des Harris president of The Bexhill Quarry Parklands Inc. committee told the Lismore App, “We are currently working on a project to make the quarry site a public reserve and linking it into the Northern Rivers Rail Trail corridor. There is much potential in the four-acre site and the committee have already created masterplan envisioning the project” he said.

The Bexhill Quarry Parklands is a project that our local region needs. But before plans are approved there are many aspects of land and title to consider.

“The first step would be to release the site from Crown hands to enable a public recreation reserve, Des said, "We have begun a weed and native flora survey and have collated a social history of the site. We would further want to work with Community Elders to intertwine indigenous history or knowledge of the site pre – brickworks”.

Other environmental assessments would need to be done. Sandstone cliffs surround the quarry. “We work with experts at Southern Cross University for Geo-Technical and Engineering reports for the sandstone. Partnership with SCU enables local advice on safety processes including pH levels in the water. The lagoon is filled with natural spring and rain runoff. When the quarry was in use they had to pump syphon the water out” . 

According to reports from SCU released 9 Nov 2022 to the Committee: “the pH levels in the quarry are healthy – healthy enough to drink”.

As the quarry gets quite busy from locals and tourists over Summer. Entry is at the individual's discretion as the land is state-owned.

“There have been issues with , rubbish dumping, camping and bush toilets! There is a real need for people to act responsibly, however, Council may consider putting in some facilities in place. Rubbish Bins, a no Camping sign and a public toilet.”

There is already an architect’s design plan that envisions what the site will look like. The proposal has received in-principle support from Lismore City Council. Bexhill Parkland have presented the project plan to Lismore Council.

“Kevin Hogan, Janelle Saffin and Ben Hogan are enthusiastic about the project. Janelle Saffin is assisting the Committee with Crown lands in Grafton. Bexhill Quarry is currently under the management of Lands Department.”

The next step is putting it to the community and applying for funding once the land comes through.

If you are planning a visit to swim in the old quarry, follow the Safety Tips from the Bexhill Quarry Parklands Facebook Page (not proposed by the group):

• Area safety: As with swimming in any dam, lake or quarry precautions should be taken to avoid injury from submerged rocks, branches, etc. Ultimately whilst council won’t recommend swimming here it is a spot enjoyed regularly by locals with little concern. But you swim at your own risk. “No access through private property.”
• Swimming: If you do choose to swim, there are a number of great little shallow ledges where you can enter the water from the bank of the quarry.
• Swim across to the far side and you’ll find a number of ropes to climb up the steep rock face and jump back down into the deeper water. Take care.

The next Bexhill Quarry Parklands Inc. meeting is 12 February 2023. This is a local community forum, and all are welcome.

To find out more about the proposed Bexhill Quarry Parklands committee you can email [email protected] or visit: https://www.facebook.com/bexhillquarryparklands or https://www.instagram.com/bexhillquarryparklands/

Membership is also available and if you make a $50 donation you receive a Parklands t-shirt.