Only place in nation with rare stone for Australian War Museum

Find out how a Central Qld property’s links to Australian history sparked a 15-year rate exemption.

An investigation into why a rural property in the Rockhampton region has not had to pay council rates for 15 years has revealed a special link with the Australian War Museum.

An investigation into why a rural property in the Rockhampton region has not had to pay council rates for 15 years has revealed a special link with the Australian War Museum.

A report to Rockhampton Regional Council at the July 8, 2025 ordinary meeting states the rate exemption from 2010 was determined on the basis the property at Bajool contained a quarry that was the only source in Australia for the provision of marble for the conservation of Australian War Graves and was not viable as a business and did not operate for a commercial benefit.

“However, the Australian War Museum provided email correspondence to council confirming that they had not procured any ‘Ulam marble for the past 15-20 years’ and indicated that they were ‘not intending to seek a proposal to procure Ulam marble at this time’,” the report said.

“Furthermore, the Australian War Museum stated that they source an extremely economical alternative of European marble through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.”

Cr Shane Latcham tabled a motion to remove the rebate for the property on the grounds that it no longer supplied marble to the Australian War Museum.

Rockhampton Region Councillor Shane Latcham.

“We’ve since had a letter from the Australian War Museum confirming that it’s not an active quarry,” he said,

“When I go out to different events out in the community, people raise this with me and they go, well, we don’t think it’s fair that someone doesn’t pay their rates, their fair share.”

A senior council officer said the holder of the property lease has had the benefit of the concession for that period of time on the simple basis that it was earmarked to supply war grave marble.

“He (property owner) isn’t actively mining at present because it’s not economically viable because there’s no market. So it’s a kind of chicken and egg situation in the process,” the officer said.

“If the marble was required, then obviously that quarry would be potentially activated again.”

The officer was asked by Cr Cherie Rutherford what would happen if the rate concession was removed from the property.

“What my expectation is that leaseholder will give up the lease if he’s required to pay the rates,” the officer said.

“That’s what I believe will be the outcome.”

Council then voted to further investigate the matter when it reviewed the overall rate concession policy later this year. 

Originally published as Only place in nation with rare stone for Australian War Museum