Mount William stone axe quarry, Aboriginal greenstone quarry in Lancefield, Australia

Mount William stone axe quarry, known in Woiwurrung as Wil-im-ee Moor-ring ("axe place"), lies 9 km northeast of Lancefield. It holds 268 mining pits, 18 of them several metres deep, and at least 34 flaking floors with debris mounds up to 20 metres across, some with a central anvil rock.

The site served as an important tool-making location since prehistoric times, with continuous use by local communities. In 1838, William Bradley first documented European observations of trading activities, where local groups exchanged stone tools.

The site held special meaning for the Wurundjeri people, who controlled access through strict protocols. Only certain men from designated family groups had the responsibility to work and care for the quarry.

The site sits in an open landscape where the pits are visible across the ground. Visiting with a knowledgeable guide helps you understand the layout and the significance of different areas.

Mount William axes were valued less for hardness than for their mythical role: they were kept to prevent the sky from falling to earth. About 1,400 axes from these quarries have been found, some up to 1,000 km away, and 70 percent outside Kulin country.