HIGHLIGHTS

1857 – 1991

 

DETAILS

1833-34 - Webster writes the “Paulsgrove Diaries” relating to his employment on James H Spearing’s Paulsgrove estate 1833-1844 at Mt Keira. Extract from October 1833 – Webster and Marcus Spearing (James’s 15 yr. old son) shared a 4 day trip on Mt Hat searching for taxidermy specimens, when “Mr. Marcus found a quarry or rather a cliff of very good coal”. May have been initial discovery of coal on Mt Keira. (“Early Illawarra” Henderson and Henderson, 1983)

1839 – The Rev. W B Clarke, a geologist, records locating coal at Mt Keira. (Geoff Mould – Illawarra Historical Soc. 2000))

1840? - The Rev. W B Clarke, in a letter to the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald (29/08/1849, p3) writes; …”that nearly ten years ago I saw coal close to the locality in question (Mt Keera) in the company of Mr. Dana of the USA expedition but subsequently in the company of Mr. Jukes of the HMS Fly measuring the seam at between 200 and 300 ft. asl.” (SMH 29/08/1849, p3 ex Trove)

1840 – James Shoobert acquires land on the west side of Mt Keira from a Mr. Edwards where an out crop of coal was found in a gully some 150 yds. (137m) west of Mt Keira Rd, within Portion 32, apparently the #3 (Wongawilli) seam. (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

In 1848, James Shoobert receives a grant of Crown land on Mt Keira and opens up a tunnel in the Wongawilli seam.

 

The Albert Coal Mine

1849 – Mid April, A shaft was being sunk on Mr James Shoobert’s property, in a gully some 150yds (137m) on the west side of Mt Keira Road, perhaps 200 – 300 yds. (183m – 274m) upwards of where the road commences to ascend? The two men involved were Ralph Thornton and Sydney Smith, Mr Shoobert at the pit’s mouth giving instructions. A William Gaskin approached and suggested it would be simpler to “dig it out of the hill, just a bit further up the hill” towards the present Mt Keira pit mouth (1899). James Shoobert purchased the remainder of Mt Keira Estate, abandoned the original #3 seam project and commenced building roads and opening up the colliery on the Albert or #2 seam. The #1 seam was opened up by William Robson, some 20 ft. (6m) higher, in 1858. (Extract from article by “Old Hand”, Ill Merc. 26/08/1899, p2 ex Trove)

1849–April, Shoobert in the process of opening up the #3 coal seam is shown the out-crop of #2 (Balgownie or 4ft) seam by William Gaskin on the east side of Mt Keira Rd, also within Portion 32. Shoobert purchases the remaining portion of Mt Keira Estate, abandons the original drive and opens a tunnel in the #2 seam, calling it the Albert Coal Mine. (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

1849 – Shoobert abandons the original drive and opens a tunnel in the overlying Balgownie seam. It is called the Albert Coal mine.

1849 - Aug 27^th, the first coal from the Albert mine is delivered to Wollongong harbour for loading onto the “William the Fourth”.

1850 – Shoobert opens a 2^nd tunnel in the #2 seam. (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

1850 – “The Mt Keira mine is now turning out a fine rich clean coal; a fresh seam (Bulli Sm) has been opened about five and twenty feet (7.62m) above the other” (Balgownie Sm). (SMH 6/12/1850 p2)

1855 - Sep 27^th, “Production from the Wongawilli seam had ceased and very low from the Balgownie seam” (SMH 27/09/1855)

1856 – Feb 18^th, the Albert Mine and the Mt. Keira home owned by James Shoobert are auctioned with 137acs, 0r, 10p of land. The mine is purchased by Henry Osborne.

 

The Osborne-Wallsend Colliery

1857 – Henry Osborne reopens the Balgownie seam mine calling it the Wallsend Colliery.

1857 – William Jackson, John Nixon, Andrew Tulip and William Robson appoint Robson to lease the mine from the Osborne Bros for 25 years. (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

1857 - April, William Robson opens a new mine, the Osborne-Wallsend Colliery for Henry Osborne in the Bulli seam in Portion 38, Parish of Wollongong as part of the Wallsend Colliery, just a short distance away and higher on the slopes of Mt. Keira. (Adjacent to the “present” tunnel). This is the first time on record that the Bulli seam was worked. The Albert Mine in the Balgownie seam is abandoned.  (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

1857 - Apr 16^th, 3.5 tons of coal is delivered to the wharf at Belmore Basin by bullock team, for trial in the S.S. Illawarra, which sailed to Sydney the following day. (Ill Mercury. 20/04/1857)

1857 – Advertisement; “Notification of J &T Garratt appointed Agents for the sale of Osborne-Wallsend Coal” plus “Wanted:- 20 teams to cart coal from Mt Keira Coal mines to Wollongong Wharf @ 6/- per ton” William Robson, Osborne-Wallsend Coal. (Ill Merc. 4/5/1857 p3)

1857 – May, first month’s production, 142 ton 15 cwt, by end 1857, 5187 ton 10 cwt. (Records as supplied to “Illustrated Sydney News” by Mr. Wiseman, the stepson of the late William Robson, and published 16/08/1890 pp.18, 19.)

Initial workings are by the Welsh bord method, drilled by hand and blasted. Forked into approximately 1 ton capacity wooden skips and hauled from the face by horse.

Progress includes the installation of a Main and Tail Rope Haulage to the surface, a weighbridge and screens at the tunnel mouth and a self-acting skip incline to the foot from where bullocks and horses haul the skips to the harbour.

A furnace shaft is sunk for ventilation on Geordie’s Flat.

1858 – Based on the annual “Blue Book”, Mt Keira (Osborne’s Wallsend Coal Mine) produces 12,438 tons of coal in its first year of working. The 3 mile long tramway is expected for completion within 6 months, the rails from England to arrive next month (February). (SMH 21/01/1859)

1859 – An incline is built to a depot in Gooyong St. Keiraville.

1859 - Henry Osborne passes away and the Osborne family leases the mine to Robson & Co. Company involvement included William Robson, William Jackson, John Nixon and Andrew Tulip.

1860 – May, an Act of Parliament is passed permitting the tramline to be constructed from mine to Wollongong Harbour (“Illustrated Sydney News”, 16/08/1890 pp.18, 19.)

1861 – May - A tramway, constructed from the mine to Belmore Basin, is opened.

1861 – Production; 12,881 tons (“Illustrated Sydney News”, 16/08/1890 pp.18, 19.)

1867 – Tulip, Nixon and Jackson sell their interest to Robson and Spiers. (Royal Australian Historical Society 1942)

1870 – “The working of the Mt Keira Coal Mine (Osborne-Wallsend) is suspended as a consequence of the financial difficulties of Mr. Speers (sic) …..” (The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, Tues 5^th July)

1870 – Speers (sic) creditors agree to the assignment of his estate, thus keeping the mine closed for a while. (The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 26^th July)

1870 – A horse pulling empty coal waggons down the Mt Keira incline bolted capsizing the skips and killing the driver’s 8 yr. old son. The driver, John Rawnsley, suffered a broken leg. (SMH 25/11/1870)

1870 – The Mount Keira Coal Mine is still at a stand-still while the conversion from a two-incline process to a single incline is implemented. Coal was lowered by 2 incline, not in direct line, detached in the middle for 100m, and then pushed manually to the second incline. The manager employed an engineer to do away with one set of drums, the modifications including a bridge 100’ for approx. £1000. Additional wagons were purchased from Woonona Colliery. (Aust. Town & Country, 31/12/1870 p6)(Ill Merc, 31/12/1870 p6).

1871 – Robson and Spiers retire and the Osborne-Wallsend Colliery reverts to the Osborne family and Frank Osborne becomes Mine Manager.

1871 – Fatality – John Cole, killed by a fall of stone, leaving a wife and three children. (SMH 6/10/71)

1871 – Fatality – John Coombes, ~26yrs, killed by 5 ton block of stone whilst working with his father-in-law, Thomas Allum, leaving a wife and two children. (Maitland Mercury 10/10/71) Is this John Cole?

1871 – The management of Mt Keira Coal mine is transferred from Mr William Robson to a Mr Thomas Oswald, former overman in the Newcastle collieries? (The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, Sat 28^th Oct, pp3)

1875 – The section of the seam being worked logged at 7’6”. The mine belonging to J. Osborne, Esq. (Dept. of Mines – Mines & Statistics Report, 1875)

1876 – Osborne and O’Hearn erect several coke ovens near Wollongong to utilise slack coal.

1876 - ~100 men and horses employed, 47,000 tons produced, ventilation ~13,000 cfm (DoMAR 1876)

1877 – 126 men employed with 45,271 tons produced (DoMAR 1877)

1878 - The horse teams hauling coal to the wharf are replaced by two steam locomotives, (Keira 1 & Keira 2). Ordered by Frank Osborne of the Osborne-Wallsend Colliery from Nasmyth Wilson & Co, Engineers of Manchester, England, shipped in 1878 and landed at Wollongong Harbour. Ceased operation in November 1954 when the line is closed. (Sometimes reported as being the first two locos on the Sth Coast, it would appear that this honour goes to two locomotives at the Bulli Coal Co. in 1869. J. L. N. Southern)

1878 – 122 men employed with 40,967 tons produced, ventilation ~10,000 cfm (DoMAR 1878)

1879 – 160 men employed with 48,444 tons produced (DoMAR 1879)

1879 May 14^{th -} Fatality – Joseph Seal, miner. (Roof fall) (DoMAR 1879)

1880 Jan 16^th – Record production for one day since opening, 550tons. (Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 17/01/1880)

1880 Sep 24^th Fatality – Thomas Allum, labourer. (Run over by wagon on incline) (DoMAR 1880)

1880 - 136 men employed with 33,996 tons produced, ventilation ~12,000 cfm (DoMAR 1880)

1881 – 145 men employed with 72,000 tons produced, ventilation ~14,000 cfm (DoMAR 1881)

1882 – 177 men employed with 82,028 tons produced, ventilation ~9,000 cfm. “A shaft is being put down for ventilation”. (DoMAR 1882)

1883 – “A large furnace shaft has been built and an air shaft sunk”. Ventilation ~24,000 cfm (DoMAR 1883). Sunk to the Balgownie Seam (BHP Billiton records)

1883 – 180 men employed with 87,011 tons produced (DoMAR 1883)

1883 – “The Osborne Wallsend Colliery is currently served by two chartered steamers, Havilah and Genil. Two new steamers having been purchase from a Dutch shipbuilding company, one completed and in transit, the second under construction. They are iron hulled, schooner rigged vessels of some 150ft x 24ft with a capacity of 420 tons of coal.” (SMH 14/12/1883 p6, ex Trove)

1884 – Colliery referred to as Mt Keira by DoM (DoMAR 1884)

1884 – 160 men employed with 66,464 tons produced, ventilation ~22,000 cfm (DoMAR 1884)

1884 Sep 6^th Fatality – Andrew Bell, miner, (fall of coal) (DoMAR 1884)

1884 – Advertised for private sale: - “some 700 acres of Freehold Coal Land adjoining Mt Keira and Mt Kembla lands. Contains fine timber, a Saw Mill of 12 HP plus all sawing equipment and 4 cottages with orchards. Apply Hurt Bros. Mount Keira Dec 1, 1884.” [South side of Goondarrin Ck.] (Ill Merc 9/12/1884)

1885 – 208 men employed with 108,579 tons produced (DoMAR 1885)

1885 Nov 14^th Fatality – Thomas Dumphy, miner. (Fall of coal) (DoMAR 1885)

1885 – During the drought an accumulation of water was found in an old tunnel several feet below the one worked. The tunnel had been driven some distance. Pipes were immediately laid down the gully and a force pump erected to supply water to the boilers. (Ill Merc. 14/11/1885 p2)

1886 – 225 men employed with 77,386 tons produced (DoMAR 1886)

1887 – 210 men employed with 73,678 tons produced (DoMAR 1887)

1887 – Strike action at the colliery triggers violence requiring the intervention of the police and the police magistrate. Mr McCabe is Mine Manager (SMH Jan 19^th)

1887 Jan 30^th Fatality – Thomas Danby, wheeler (fall of coal) (DoMAR 1887)

1887 – Check Inspectors Report (Partial) – At the furnace or upcast shaft some 38,745 cfm were passing at 625 ft./min. Joseph Hilton & John Douglas, Check Inspectors 13/14 Apr. 1887 (Ill Merc. 21/04/1887 p2)

1888 – 220 men employed with 121,825 tons produced, ventilation ~35,000 cfm (DoMAR 1888)

1888 Oct 4^th Fatality – Robert Kenning, points boy (run over by set) (DoMAR 1888)

1888 – Osborne-Wallsend Colliery is offered for sale as the consequence of the proposed departure of Capt. Osborne to permanently reside in Europe. The property consists of 1688 acres of freehold and 642 acres of leasehold land. Five seams of payable coal are on the property. The concern owns two steamers, the Kurrara and the Kanabooka (sic). (Royal Australian Historical Society 1942) (SMH 13/2/1889)

1889 – May 8^th, the Kurrara, a screw steam collier of 420 tons is involved in a collision with the A.U.S.N. Co.’s steamer Eurimbla between the heads of Sydney Harbour. Although damaged, the Osborne-Wallsend’s Kurrara was able to continue into Messageries Wharf to discharge her cargo of coal and the Eurimbla proceeded undamaged to Brisbane. (Evening News, 15/05/1889 p5, ex Trove)

1889 – Aug? 23^rd – A collision near Bradley’s Head between the Ellis Line steamer, Centennial, and the Osborne-Wallsend’s Kanahooka, inbound from Wollongong with coal for the P & O Co.’s RMS Victoria, resulted in the Centennial sinking with the loss of one life, the chief cook. The Centennial attempted to beach in Taylor’s Bay however sunk with only her funnel and masts above water. (Illustrated Sydney News, 05/09/1889 p12, ex Trove)

1889 – 260 men employed with 113,652 tons produced, ventilation ~30,000 cfm (DoMAR 1889)

1890 – Mr. F. P. MacCabe retires as manager of the Osborne Wallsend colliery after nearly 30 years, being presented with an oil portrait at a reception at the Wollongong Town Hall, attended by some 250 mine employees. He is replaced by his son, Mr. H. O. MacCabe (SMH 27/01/1890)

1892 – 151 men employed with 75,050 tons produced, ventilation 30-35,000 cfm (DoMAR 1892)

1893 – 217 men employed with 83,788 tons produced, ventilation ~30,000 cfm (DoMAR 1893)

1894 – 174 men employed with 77,593 tons produced, ventilation 28-30,000 cfm (DoMAR 1894)

1896 - 214 men employed with 93,234 tons produced ventilation ~35,000 cfm (DoMAR 1896)

1896 Aug 28^th – Fatality – James Goldrick, horse driver (wagon on incline) (DoMAR 1896)

1897 Sep 13^th - Fatality – Charles Benjamin Drew, shunter (crushed between waggon buffers) (DoMAR 1897)

1898 – 185 men employed with 72,937 tons produced. H. O. McCabe, mine manager, gives notice to DoM on 13/12/1898 of intent to drive 2 headings in the 4ft seam for water standage.  (DoMAR 1898)

1899 – 176 men employed with 74,590 tons produced (DoMAR 1899)

1899 Nov 8^th - the colliery is purchased by Mr. Ebenezer Vickery and Sons. (DoMAR 1899)

1899 – Snapshot:- An adit mine with a 9ft diameter upcast furnace shaft, 113ft deep with ~50,000cfm capacity. (DoMAR 1899)

1900 - December - John McGeachie is appointed Mine Manager with Michael Phillips as Undermanager. He replaces the 3’-8^1/2” gge self–acting incline with a 2’-0” gge endless rope system.

1900 – 245 men employed with 120,114 tons produced (DoMAR 1900)

1900 Oct 15^th – Fatality – Patrick Hayes (natural causes) (DoMAR 1900)

1901 – Check Inspectors Report (Partial); Pratt’s Tunnel intake drawing 24,400 cfm and in good order, McGoldrick’s requires a couple of falls to be cleared; 73,920 cfm at the furnace. John Wynn & James Emery, Check Inspectors 4/5 June 1901. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 22/06/1901)

1901 – 258 men employed with 145,593 tons produced. 17^th May, E. Vickery notifies DoM re the appointment of Jacob Carlos Jones as Mine Manager, vice John McGeachie (DoMAR1901)

1902 – 305 men employed with 166,698 tons produced. “Mt Keira mine has decided to sink a shaft a little in advance of the present workings, on top of which they intend to erect a fan for ventilation in lieu of the means of furnace as at present”. (DoMAR 1902)

1902 – Tenders are called for the making of 200,000 bricks, back of Keira Mountain; Apply J.C. Jones, Mt Keira (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 20/12/1902, p10)

1902 – “The Osborne-Wallsend mine is ventilated by a furnace, the intakes being the main haulage tunnel and two adits”. (Insp. Bates, DoMAR 1902)

1903 – 334 men employed with 147,018 tons produced (DoMAR 1903)

1903 – Osborne-Wallsend Colliery listed as being ventilated by 4 adits and 1 x 9ft diam furnace shaft, 350 ft deep supplying 78,903 cfm (DoMAR 1903)

1903 – “Keira Proprietary, with a view to sinking a new ventilation shaft at the back of Keira Mt have a gang of men, during the last month or two, making roads with large cuttings and embankments in over one mile in length and also cleared a large area of bush so as to give space to build brick sheds, cottages and of course, the sinking of the shaft and the erection of engines, fans and w/shops etc.” (SCT & W’Gong Argus 28/03/1903 p8)

1903 – Mr Michael Phillips retires after 20 years as underground manager. (Australian Town & Country Journal, 11/11/1903)

1903 – Tenders are invited for the sinking of an air shaft at the back of Mt Keira; E. Vickery & Sons, Sydney. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 18/07/1903, p10)

1903 – J.C. Jones notifies DoM of commencement of a new ventilation shaft on the banks of Goondarrin Creek on 17^th June. Thom. Bissell listed as Undermanager (DoMAR 1903)

1903 – Osborne-Wallsend listed as owned by E. Vickery, Manager; J. C. Jones, U/Manager; Thomas Bissell. The mine having 4 adits and ventilated by a 9ft diameter furnace shaft 350 ft. deep drawing 78,903 cu. ft. per min. (DoMAR 1903 table pp122)

1904 – 329 men employed. The new shaft (Mt Keira No.1) is equipped with a “Walker Patent Indestructible Fan”. J.C. Jones notifies the DoM (18^th March) of resuming work on sinking the shaft. (DoMAR 1904)

1904 – “A shaft being sunk at Goondarrin Ck. Valley. A new entry and stables on the south side of Mt. Keira Rd (Pratt’s?). A brick making plant and rails laid to the shaft site. 3 cottages built for the workmen.” (SCT and W’Gong Argus, 26/03/04)

1904 – “It is expected to strike the coal seam in the Keira Shaft behind the mountain on Tuesday” (i.e. 12/7/04) (SCT & W’Gong Argus, Sat. 9/07/1904)

1904 – No. 1 Fan Shaft is sunk to the Balgownie seam (102m), near Goondarrin Creek, and equipped with a dual expansion steam engine driving a 12’ (3.6m) diameter Walker Fan via cotton drive ropes, with a capacity of 100,000 cfm @ ¾” w.g. and replacing 3 furnace shafts.

1904 – “Last week, Mr. H. Brooks, one of the contractors for the Keira Air Shaft, was attending to a winch when the handle struck him under the chin. Recovering at home. (SCT & W’Gong Argus 12/11/1904 p8)

1905 – January, a state wide heatwave of 100 degrees plus, triggers numerous bushfires including Goulburn, Gundagai, Campbelltown and Maitland plus one between Mt Pleasant and Mt Keira. (SMH 2/1/1905)

1905 – 335 men employed. Jones and Bissell are mine management. (DoMAR 1905)

1906 Jul 10^th – Fatality – John Dobing, 71, brakeman (runaway skip) (DoMAR 1906)

1906 Sep 20^th – Fatality – John Dumphy, 35, miner (roof fall) (DoMAR 1906)

1908 Aug 31^st – Fatality – William McDonald, 56, Deputy (trip and fall) (DoMAR 1908)

1908 – 304 men employed. Jones and Bissell are mine management. (DoMAR 1908)

1909 – 373 men employed, 144 days worked. E. Vickery & Sons listed as owners, J. C. Jones and T. Bissell as manager and u/manager respectively. (DoMAR 1909)

1909 – Listing of shaft details:- 1 x 300 x 12 feet diameter shaft with 8 x 4 x 6ft high single decked cage (DoMAR 1909)

1910 Mar 4^th – Fatality – Thomas Francis O’Brien, miner (heart failure) (DoMAR 1910)

1910 Mar 17^th – Fatality – Frederick Peterson, 30, miner (roof fall) (DoMAR 1910)

1910 – 331 men employed. (DoMAR 1910)

1911 – 305 men employed, 205 days worked (DoMAR 1911)

1912 Jan 19^th – Fatality – John Charles Wilson, 36, shiftman (stone from roof) (DoMAR 1912)

1912 – 349 men employed, 257 days worked (DoMAR 1912)

~1912 – Mr. J. C. Jones is Mine Manager with Mr. Bissell as Undermanager. The mine is operating with 3 adits, used as intakes, plus the No. 1 shaft sunk some 300ft deep and 2 miles NW of the main entrance. The 12’ Walker, double entry fan is now operating at 40 rpm at 1.1” w.g. Duel engines, one of them held in reserve as back-up. The shaft is equipped with a single cage with rope guides, operated by a geared duplex engine driving a single drum. (Power, Danvers F, 1912, Coalfields and Collieries of Australia)

1913 – A new tunnel and ventilating shaft are driven into the seam on Portion 39. (J. L. N. Southern 12/03/1984)

1913 – 350 men employed, 233 days worked (DoMAR 1913)

1914 – 344 men employed (DoMAR1914)

1915 Jun 17^th – Fatality – Joseph Hay, 53, miner (roof fall) (DoMAR 1915)

1916 – 330 men employed (DoMAR 1916)

1917 – 246 men employed, 206 days worked (DoMAR 1917)

1918 – 230 men employed, 184 days worked (DoMAR 1918)

1919 – 278 men employed, 211 days worked (DoMAR 1919)

1920 – 287 men employed, 256 days worked (DoMAR 1920)

1921 – 304 men employed (DoMAR 1921)

1922 – 295 men employed, 194 day worked (DoMAR 1922)

1923 – 293 men employed, 193 days worked (DoMAR 1923)

1924 – 283 men employed, 196 days worked (DoMAR 1924)

1925 – 299 men employed (DoMAR 1925)

1926 – 315 men employed, 191 days worked (DoMAR 1926)

1927 – 304 men employed (DoMAR 1927)

1928 – 239 men employed, 120 days worked (DoMAR 1928)

1929 – 273 men employed, 233 days worked. New bathroom opened. (DoMAR 1929)

1930 – 127 days worked (DoMAR 1930)

1930 Apr 15^th – Fatality – Frederick Walker, miner (fall of roof stone) (DoMAR 1930)

During the early part of the 1900s the daily average output was some 600 to 700 tons, however in the 1930s coal contracts were difficult to come by and production days slumped to a minimum of 23 days worked in 1932.

1934 - April 10^th, the Mt Pleasant Mine is purchased by E. Vickery, changing the name to Keira Pleasant Tunnels. This mine was opened in 1861, going into liquidation in 1934.

1934 – 68 days worked (DoMAR 1934)

1935 – 248 days worked (DoMAR 1935)

1936 – 205 days worked (DoMAR 1936)

1936 – Production falls to 450 tons per day

1937- January 26^th, the AIS Ltd purchases the Osborne-Wallsend Colliery and Keira Pleasant Tunnels Colliery (Mt Pleasant Mine) from Ebenezer Vickery and Sons to supply coal to its’ rapidly expanding steelworks at Port Kembla. The coal haulage to Belmore basin is discontinued and replaced by endless rope haulage to the screens and by Gov. Railway waggon to the steelworks.

1937 – 227 days worked (DoMAR 1937)

1937 – August 5^th, Osborne-Wallsend holes into the Mt. Pleasant mine and again on Oct, 28^th.

1938 - November, a power house, previously built at Mt. Pleasant Colliery, is refurbished and commenced supplying power to the Osborne Wallsend Colliery.

1938 – 198 days worked (DoMAR 1938)

1938 – November 25^th, a “Samson Coal Cutter” is introduced as the first step in mechanisation, commencing to cut coal in the 5 Left Machine District, followed by another coal cutter, a scraper loader and a 9X Sullivan Track Cutter placed in No.3 Right District in July, 1939.

1939 18^th Sept. - Fatality – Antonio Carollo, shiftman, died from injuries. (DoMAR 1939)

1939 - A power line from the Mt Pleasant power house begins supplying power to the No.1 Shaft. The steam driven Walker fan is replaced by an electric “Aeroto” fan of 250,000 cfm capacity. (See Dwg K859 23/05/1940 re “Arrangement of New Fan)

Aeroto Fan installed post electrical power connection – 1940 (A. Hubsher)

1940 - March 4^th, power generated at the steelworks is connected to the mine.

1940 - Mechanisation continues with the introduction of Jeffrey L400 Loaders (triggering a 4 week strike), and an Atlas battery powered electric loco.

1941 - Prospecting begins in the Wongawilli seam via a staple shaft sunk from the Bulli seam in No. 3 Left district to obtain a coal sample. (BHP Coal News No 81) also by a tunnel near the powder magazine (R. Spires)

1942 - Transportation of the men in and out of the pit is by rail track (3’- 6” gge.) using the first diesel powered loco to operate underground in Australia.

1946 - Operations are commenced in the Wongawilli seam on 25^th March but soon abandoned. A D7 bulldozer exposes a new site on 9^th April, just below the mine entrance road. Power was established and a 29L cutter, an L400 loader, an Atlas loco and 6 ton skips production commences. A 300 ton bunker and gantry, surge bin and crusher are installed. Coal is carted by road to Wongawilli Colliery by Ford & Nubley to be mixed with their coal, commencing 18^th June. After advancing some 125 metres from the portal, roof conditions deteriorate and water accumulation becomes a problem. (R. Spires)

1946 Oct, - a second L400 loader and cutter are introduced to the Wongawilli workings. (R. Spires)

1946 – 202 days worked (DoMAR 1946)

1947 – 233 days worked (DoMAR 1947)

1948 (late)– The Wongawilli seam Main Headings are in some 762 metres from the portals, with 6 working places and heavy roof. (R. Spires)

Incorporated into the modernisation programme was a tunnel (Kemira Tunnel), 4.8 kms in length, driven from the escarpment and intersecting with the workings to give direct access to the companies private railway line to the steelworks via Kemira Valley.

A Section 37 Notice is received by the DMR of the opening of the Kemira Tunnel. (DoMAR 1948)

1948 – October 1^st, the Kemira Tunnel is commenced. The driveage is 17 ft wide x 10 ft high rising at a gradient of 1:375 for 15,150 ft to the Bulli seam.

1948 Nov 8^th - Fatality - [Kemira Tunnel] Harold Whitehead, welder’s labourer (electrocution) (DoMAR 1948)

1948 – 213 days worked (DoMAR 1948)

1949 – Roof falls, distorted 10” x 8” RSJs, 24 hour pumping hinder the Wongawilli development. Roof bolting is trialled but proves unsuccessful. (R. Spires)

1949 May 25^{th –} Fatality - Keith Arnett, lamp man, crushed between battery loco and surface tipping ramp. DMR Report

1949 – 199 days worked (DoMAR 1949)

1950 Mar 28^{th –} Fatality - Eric James, coal cutter operator, crushed upon slipping under the coal cutter. (DoMAR 1950)

1950 – September 6^th, operations cease in the Wongawilli seam, conditions having become untenable. The seam is abandoned. (DoMAR 1950)

Equipment is transferred to the Mt. Pleasant site, producing coal from the 16^th December, 1950 to the 30^th September, 1955, when the available coal is exhausted. Operations at the Mt. Pleasant Colliery site then cease.

1951 Nov 15^{th –} Fatality – Walter Hurt, battery loco driver, fatal injuries when colliding with a derailed 6 ton capacity mine car. (DoMAR 1951)

1952 – 225 days worked (DoMAR 1952)

1952 – 1954 – 106,000 tons of coal fines are hauled out of the slack heap by trucks for the steelworks.

1954 – 232 days worked (DoMAR 1954)

1954 – August 30^th, the Kemira Tunnel holes into the colliery workings.

1954 – November 5^th, the Mt Keira incline is shut down and the old endless rope incline haulage bins and screens, sub workshops and the railway are all removed after 95 yrs. of service.

1954 – November 8^th, this tunnel becomes the haulage road for the mines output and also allows a rearrangement of the collieries ventilation system. 25 Tonne Malcolm Moore Diesel Locomotives installed.

Kemira Tunnel – (A. Hubsher)

The Kemira Colliery;

1955 – February 7^th, the colliery changes its name from Osborne Wallsend (known locally as Mt. Keira) to Kemira Colliery (a combination of Kembla & Keira).

Five Joy 1CM3 Continuous Miners are introduced over a period commencing in December, 1955, to January, 1960, operating in both development and pillar extraction panels.

CM7 – 20/12/55

CM8 – 14/04/56

CM9 – 23/04/56

CM15 – 12/12/58

CM16 – 12/01/60

The mine is divided into the 7 Right and Main West by a fault.

In 1956/7 2 x Calyx Shafts are sunk (84m) & 1.8m diam. Each shaft is fitted with a Hi-Flow Fan, giving a total equivalent to 200,000 cfm @ 101 mm w.g. Sunk to ventilate the 7 Right area. Shaft #1 May 1956 – Mar 1957 and #2 Apr 1957 – Aug 1957.

Kemira No. 2 Shaft - (A. Hubsher)

The No. 2 Shaft is sunk between 5/9/56 and 13/9/57 (297m deep x 3.658m diam.) over the Main West workings and fitted with the 120,000 cfm @ 76 mm w.g. Aeroto axial flow fan running at 500 rpm from No. 1 Shaft. No.1 Shaft reverts to downcasting. (a second report names a Davidson Aeroto axial flow fan multi-bladed 100” dia. 165,000 cfm. @ 3.1”wg with 140 HP slip ring motor)

1957 – Dwg KA2565 29/03/1957 – shows ‘69” Hi-Flow Fan Installation on Calyx No. 1 Shaft’

Kemira Nos. 1 & 2 Calyx Shafts – (A. Hubsher)

1958 – Fletcher Roof Bolters are introduced in January and Joy 10SC Shuttle Cars in September.

1959 - Four continuous miner units, 10 ton skips and diesel locos hauling coal via the 3 mile Kemira Drift. Average production is 2,100 tons/day. (DoMAR 1959)

1960 – Due to mining difficulties continuous mining equipment is withdrawn from the main development sections replaced by Joy 11BU and 14BU loaders and an Anderson Boyes Trackless Cutter on a 2 shift production basis. (Partly DoMAR 1960)

1961 – Conveyor belts are introduced.

1963 – Proposed alterations to the Mt Keira Administration Office (AI&S Dwg KB3838 19/12/63)

1964 May – Water problems are encountered penetrating the fender at Panel D14, D16 panel is flooded with all equipment being covered the water being drained by borehole.

1964 – Corrimal Colliery is purchased by AIS.

1965 – Longwall is introduced. Mining conditions are deteriorating so as to jeopardise the viability of mining coal using the bord and pillar technique so a decision is made to trial the longwall method. A longwall retreating system is purchased and arrives at the colliery in May. Production commences on June 22^nd 1965 on a single shift operation in order to suitably train local operators. After three weeks caving has commenced and the face has advanced 61 ft.

The workings are completed on December 23^rd 1965, with 155,472 tons of coal extracted without a single lost time injury.

This original longwall consisted of;

155 x 6 leg Gullick chocks, each leg set at 50 tons yield and having a working range of 5 ft to 7 ft. Operated by two 15 h.p. Gullick hydraulic pumps, each rated at 10.3 gpm at 1500 psi.

1 x 200h.p. Anderson Boyes single ended, ranging drum shearer. Weighing 8 tons and equipped with a 53” diameter x 24” wide drum, the haulage unit could haul it at speeds of up to 25 f.p.m.

1 x Mining Engineering Co. Ltd Armoured Face Conveyor equipped with a triple chain scraper capable of 187 ft/min. and a capacity of 400 tons/hour.

2 x 120 h.p. Meco-Moore face conveyor drives and 1 x 120 h.p. Meco-Moore stage loader drive

Underground Longwall Chocks in Position (A.Hubscher)

Special Mines Department approval was required to use 1100 V. on the face equipment and was granted for a two year trial period.

Actual shifts worked – 214; Average tons per shift – 727; Best shift tonnage – 1,607.

(Longwall specifications and performance extracted from The BHP Technical Bulletin No. 26)

The introduction of this longwall is the first successful application of mechanised longwall mining in New South Wales with seven longwalls of varying length being extracted from the 7 Right District, with completion of LW #8 (#7 is not extracted due to geological conditions) in February, 1972.

In order to transport coal from the company’s mines to the west, down the 305 m escarpment, an underground Belt Drift is constructed from O’Brien’s Gap to the foot of the escarpment into Kemira Valley.

1966 – May 9^th, housing a 1,707 m conveyor belt, the O’Brien’s Drift commences operations.

1966 – Tom Thumb Colliery is opened, feeding coal into the Kemira coal handling system.

1967 – Corrimal and Kemira Collieries are linked with a drift and u/g coal bin above the Bulli seam on their common boundary. Coal produced at Corrimal is transported to Kemira Valley through Kemira workings.

1968 – A second 500 ton u/g bin is brought into operation to absorb the production surges from Corrimal and the longwall. At the completion of LW3 the wall is completely overhauled and strengthened. The setting loads were increased by the addition of a high pressure pump.

1969 – LW5 commences on 14^th May. The average daily output from this face is 3730 tons. Kemira’s manning peaks at 497 men.

1970 – LW5 is completed producing record tonnages. LW6 production did not reached expectations due to industrial disputations. (DoMAR 1970)

1971 – LW6 produces less than predicted mainly due to adverse geological conditions (DoMAR 1971)

1971 - A trial of “shortwall” during the year failed to reach its potential and was consequently withdrawn.

1972 – The major components of the L/W equipment are withdrawn.

1975 – Corrimal No. 3 Shaft is equipped with a skip winder permitting road haulage of Corrimal’s coal to O’Brien’s Drift, negating the requirement to haul Corrimal coal via Kemira, ceasing on 29/08/1975.

1976 – Aug ‘76-Feb ’77 - Exploratory headings are driven into the Wongawilli seam from the Kemira Tunnel in the vicinity of No. 1 Bin, including #4 Staple Shaft (Aug 1976-Feb 1977).

1977 – March 14^th, production commences in the W1 panel, as a trial of developing the Wongawilli seam, prompted by a shortage of #3 seam (Wongawilli) coal required for the steelworks at Port Kembla. Joy CM16 utilised until replaced by Heliminer #70 on 15^th May 1978. Joy CM16 is transferred to Wongawilli Colliery in November of 1978.

Peak production occurs for the year ending November 1979 with some 770,684 tonnes being produced.

1980 – Proposed modifications to the Mt Keira Surface Control Cabin and Gas Monitoring building above the man transport station. (AI&S Dwg KA9289 12/5/1980)

Between August 1981 and September 1982, a 1,200 ton storage bin is constructed by raising a staple shaft between the Kemira Tunnel and the Wongawilli seam workings. The bin is commissioned on the 9^th April, 1984.

Due to the deterioration of the market for steel, reductions in coal requirements followed by the inevitable reduction in labour requirements results in 189 employees (60% of the workforce) being handed their retrenchment notices.

1982 – October 29^th, 189 retrenchment notices are handed out.

A protest in the form of an underground “sit-in” by 30 employees on the threat of retrenchment notices being handed out, for some 16 days is undertaken; however it is to no avail, ending on 29^th October, the retrenchment notices remaining.

Bord and pillar development of the Wongawilli seam continues to use Jeffrey Model 120H Heliminers.

1988 - Longwall mining is reintroduced to Kemira but is unable to prevent the final closure of the colliery.

1989 – Kemira’s main fan is upgraded by new equipment sourced from John Darling and Corrimal Collieries. Airflow capacity is increased from 370 cu m/s to 585 cu m/s. (Coal News Jan 1990)

Dayshift, just prior to the last shear – Courtesy “Coal News” Issue No. 80 Oct 1991

1991 – Friday, September 27^th, Kemira Colliery closes.

Part based on Spires, Robert, 1984. History of Kemira Colliery, 1857 – 1984.

DoMAR; Department of Mines Annual Report

1992 – Reference to Drawings – ‘Sealing of Kemira Tunnel, Calyx Shaft and No.1 D/C Shaft.’

1992 – Reference to drawings – ‘Kemira Portal and No.2 U/C Shaft.’

1995 – The mine’s 2 tunnels and 4 shafts are sealed.

Kemira Tunnel is sealed with a 6 metre concrete plug (120m³ and 20 mPa) some 20 metres inbye the portal. The pour is taken in 3 stages by Coastwide Constructions Pty Ltd.

The #1 shaft winder building is demolished and put down the shaft. A steel platform is initially suspended then bolted to the shaft lining. 4 pockets are excavated above the steel platform. 3 metres of concrete plug is poured above the platform.

The #2 shaft and the two Calyx Shafts are also fitted with 3 metre plugs inserted in each.

                Siozos. Peter, 1995, Colliery News.

2004/2005 – Under the project management of Forbes Rigby Pty Ltd and Select Civil Pty Ltd as the primary contractor, the Kemira pit top on Mt Keira is re-contoured, rehabilitated and revegetated.

Kemira Pit Top Rehabilitation Works in progress (27^th Aug 2004) – showing the original portal (at the top of the cascade), a new gabion lined stream cascade, the re-contouring and revegetation.

Owners/Managers of the Osborne – Wallsend Colliery

From	To		Manager
1857	1871		William Robson
1871	1890’s		Frank Osborne (Henry’s son)
1890’s	1900		Henry Osborne McCabe (killed as a rescuer Mt Kembla 1902)
1900	1901		John McGeachie (Michael Phillips as u/manager)
1901	1920		Jacob Carlos Jones (Thomas Bissell as u/manager)
1920	1945		Wyndam Jones (son of Jacob)
1945	1946		John Morgan
1946	1954		Allen Reeks
1954	1956		Dean Simes
1956	1973		Bob Reid
1973	1976		David Clark
1976	1976		A R McClay
1976	1976		Trevor Ayre
1976	1977		David Clark
1977	1981		Don Crandon
1981	1981		John Sleigh
1981	1983		Stephen Pratt
1983			Geoff Todd
1999			Bill Watson
			Owner
1857	1859		Henry Osborne
1859	1899		Osborne – Wallsend Coal Co.
1899	1937		Ebenezer Vickery & Sons (8/11/99)
1937	1991*		Purchased by AI & S (26/01/1937)
			*Mine closed; sealed 1995; rehabilitated 2004/2005
	2013#
			#Mine surface sold by Illawarra Coal

 

Mt Keira (Kemira) Colliery circa 1895

 

Historical Surface Reconfiguration

1901 – The self-acting incline is replaced by an endless rope system (Spires)

1940 – (04/03/1940) power generated at the steelworks connected to mine. (Spires)

1940’s – Modernisation including buildings to house the Lamp Cabin, U/m Office and Timekeeper’s Office plus Bathroom improvements. (Spires)

1941 – The Workshop (as used at least up to 1984) is erected the previous Workshop being located under the (present i.e. 1984) Main Office and Bulk Store building. (Spires)

1941 – An exploration tunnel is driven into the Wongawilli seam near the powder magazine. (Spires)

1946 – The Wongawilli seam operations commence just below the mine entrance road. (Spires)

1950 – Operations in the Wongawilli seam ceases with exploration at Mt Pleasant commencing. The surface infrastructure (300 ton bin etc.) is transferred to the Mt Pleasant site.

1954 – Incline closed (05/11/1954) and together with the screens, dismantled. (Spires)

1955 – Operations at Mt Pleasant cease with all equipment returned to Mt Keira mine. (Spires)

1964 – The old weatherboard Main Office Bldg is demolished and area turned into the visitor’s car-park. The new main office is relocated above #5 Bathroom next to the Bulk Store. The upper section of the Bathroom is renovated for admin office use. (This was the original Workshop). (Spires)

1981 – Further Bathroom renovations undertaken. (Spires)

1995 – The main tunnel is sealed after colliery closure in 1991

2004/2005 – The pit top is rehabilitated – re-contoured and revegetated.