Australia

The perfect location for industrial dereliction and intimate landscapes in the heart of Dinorwic Quarry

What Is It

Standing in the Australia section of Dinorwic gives a real sense of how much of the surrounding mountains have been hewn and hollowed out in pursuit of the grey gold that was slate. The top of the Australia is almost at the peak of the mountain, whilst the bottom of the descends deep into the ground.

Divide into lower section and upper section

What to Shoot

There is plenty of opportunity for landscape compositions. The pit has several remains of cabins and blast huts, both up the galleries and on the level where you enter the quarry.

and some iron workings still remain, which make for great photographic subjects in their own right. It is one of my favourite places int he quarry for more intimate landscapes.

Many of the levels have been lost under collapses,

tucked away at the back of the Garret side of the quarrySeveral buildings in various states of ruin, some with the relics of machinery stand at the entrance.

Dereliction


This section of the quarry has some great subjects for more intimate landscapes.

Galleries to the right have an array of ruins

Selection of trees

When To Shoot

In general, Dinorwic can be shot in any weather

A workers hut is dwarfed by towering galleries and rubble in the Australia section of Dinowric quarry

How To Get There

The giant area known as Australia is tucked away at the back of the Garret or far left hand side of the quarry.

From the bus stop car park, pass the Mills and head onto the main path, look out for the metal gate on the left hand side, jump over

  • Navigate up toward Australia (see map below)

  • Ascend 3 levels, following the slate staircases

  • You will reach the entrance to Australia, denoted by some small buildings and a hole in the quarry walls

Difficulty

Rated 1 - 3

The lower section of Austraila is

The upper terraces can only be accessed by the Grand Staircase, a brutal knee-busting ascent to the upper levels, which climbs several hundred feet at a steep incline.

Crowd Factor

Low to Medium.

Australia is quite popular with climbers, but you shouldn’t have to jostle with too many tripods whilst you are here.

Dinorwic’s Hidden waterall, deep in California

The Drum House at sunrise hitting the distant peaks of Snowden

Disclaimer

Entrance to Dinorwic is at your own risk. Whilst a wonderful, enchanting photographic location, with unrivalled opportunities, it’s easy to forget that this is first and foremost an abandoned quarry.

Buildings collpase, spoil heaps collapse, tunnels collapse, staircases collapse. Nothing is maintained; everything is decaying after nearly half a centry of abaonment and merciless mountain weather. Enter at your own risk.