VPRS 15210 Gherang Gravel Conference Papers (GRS 836)

This record series comprises records maintained by the Geelong City as one of the members of Gherang Gravel Conference administered from the City of Geelong. In 1920 three municipalities in Geelong area established the Gherang Gravel Conference to exploit Gherang gravel resources. The charter members of the Conference were the City of Geelong and the Shires of Corio and Winchelsea. At its meeting on 11 November 1920 the Conference decided to acquire the land for the project. The first train load of gravel left the pits on Monday, 18 September. The Conference soon decided to run the pits by contract.During the first year of operation, the municipalities of Barrabool, Bellarine and South Barwon joined the Conference. The Conference members agreed to stage their gravel orders over a 12 months' period so that a regular production schedule could be implemented and peaks and troughs avoided. In addition to these regular orders, the Conference sold gravel to any other buyer and this included municipalities such as the Shire of Colac, Government bodies such as the Victorian Railways and private individuals.The heyday of the pits was from 1922 to 1931. After this gravel production declined for a variety of reasons and in 1939 the last load was despatched by rail. The Conference had secured large contracts from the Country Roads Board (eg. for road works at Beach Forest) and the Federal Government (for works at Laverton and Point Cook air fields) and this kept the pits running at full production until road making fashions changed and cartage costs became uneconomic. The final blow was delivered by road motor competition that could cart Gherang gravel at cheaper rates than then being charged by the Victorian Railways. The Conference then wound up its direct involvement at the pit, sold the plant and equipment and leased the quarry. The Shires of Barrabool, South Barwon and Winchelsea had sold their interests in the scheme in 1935.During the course of its existence, the Gherang Gravel Conference was administered from the City of Geelong.