Metal from the quarry could be supplied free of charge, except for cartage, to persons requiring it to pave the streets of Launceston under the inspection of the Town Surveyor.

It is believed that stone had been quarried from the site since 1835 to build the gaol on the corner of Bathurst and Paterson streets.

With the growth of Launceston, bluestone was needed for drains and roadways and the Cataract Quarry proved to be a great source that was conveniently located.

Looking around Launceston today examples of the quarry finds can still be seen.

The walls of the prison, now Launceston College, and the Town Hall were built with bluestone and the 1889 extensions to the Church of the Apostles were built with the same stone.

In 1890 walkways on the river banks were curbed with bluestone also.

None of this was done without incident. Safety was not an issue and workers could be replaced easily.

Many reports of crushed legs, broken limbs and even deaths can be found in the papers of the day.   

By the early 1920s the council was counting dollars; however, the quality of stone proved too good to close the quarry and it continued operating until the mid-1940s, incorporating asphalt and concrete plants from the 1930s.

The latter was used for the new Invermay sewer system in 1933.

In 1928 the city started to think about the appearance of the quarry in relation to entrance to the gorge and visitors to the city.  

Trees were planted but it was still ugly, however income from the quarry was too high to close it down.

In 1946 a quarry in St Leonards was purchased by council with plans to eventually close Cataract Quarry and turn it into a park.

The idea to build a community hotel was discussed by council.

By 1948 the space was cleared and cleaned up with all operations moved to St Leonards and it was decided to sell some of the site and turn the rest into the gorge car park.

Consideration for a hotel was still being given.  

No decision had been made regarding the site by 1954 and it sat fenced off and vacant for many decades until Roger Smith purchased the land.

In 1979, he developed the Penny Royal Gunpowder Mill attraction which operated for over 20 years.  

In 2016, Joseph Chromy OAM transformed and reopened the tourist site once again with attractions which take advantage of the quarry’s rugged remains.