Date Time
Council committed to Fireclay Caverns Reopening
Rockhampton Regional Council has this morning reiterated its unwavering commitment towards reopening the Fireclay Caverns in Mount Morgan.
Councillors at today’s meeting resolved not to proceed with the compulsory acquisition of the native title but Mayor Tony Williams reassured the local community that Council was still committed to the project and would look for other avenues to progress it.
“Today’s decision is a clear sign we remain committed to seeing this incredible tourism and historical experience brought back to life but we want to do it the right way and the compulsory acquisition of native title isn’t that way,” Mayor Williams said.
News Penny Hoffmann
Premium Content
Subscriber only
In the late 1800s, excavations via pick and shovel began on the Mount Morgan fireclay caverns to provide for the town’s brickworks.
But what workers didn’t know at the time was that they were excavating what was once a Jurassic lake.
The clay mining ceased in 1927 and over a number of years, clay fell from the cavern’s ceilings, uncovering hundreds of unexpected dinosaur footprints that palaeontologists have estimated to be over 200 million years old.
The footprints were first discovered by a survey team in 1952 and were later analysed by geologist.