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Balmain Colliery was a
The presence of coal was confirmed in 1891 with bores at Birchgrove and Cremorne Point. Permission to mine from the Department of Mines was granted in 1894 with another parcel of land between Rose Bay and Vaucluse also applied for in 1895. Sydney Harbour Collieries (Limited) started the mine, however the company was wound up in 1896; and the mine was bought by the Harbour Collieries Co.
Two shafts, named Birthday and Jubilee, were sunk between 1897 and 1902.
The mine produced coal from 1897 to 1915 and from 1924 to 1931, and methane (
coal mine
Coal mining is the process of resource extraction, extracting coal from the ground or from a mine. Coal is valued for its Energy value of coal, energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to Electricity generation, generate electr ...
located in Birchgrove in the inner-west of Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, in the state of New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. It produced coal from 1897 until 1931 and natural gas
Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
from 1937 to 1950.Peter Reynolds, ''Balmain Places 2 – The Coal Mine Under The Harbour'' , Architectural History Research Unit, University of New South Wales, 1996, At approximately in depth, it remains the deepest coal mine ever to have been sunk in Australia.
Location
The colliery was located on the northern side of the Balmain Peninsula, on the corner of Birchgrove Road and Water Street, next to Birchgrove Public School.History
The presence of coal was confirmed in 1891 with bores at Birchgrove and Cremorne Point. Permission to mine from the Department of Mines was granted in 1894 with another parcel of land between Rose Bay and Vaucluse also applied for in 1895. Sydney Harbour Collieries (Limited) started the mine, however the company was wound up in 1896; and the mine was bought by the Harbour Collieries Co.
Two shafts, named Birthday and Jubilee, were sunk between 1897 and 1902.
The mine produced coal from 1897 to 1915 and from 1924 to 1931, and methane (natural gas
Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
) from 1937 to 1950.
The site is now occupied by the Hopetoun Quays residential complex.
Mining accidents
Three fatal accidents occurred at the mine claiming ten lives: * On 17 March 1900, six miners were being lowered down the Birthday shaft. At the bucket they were travelling in caught on a projection, tipped over and five of the six men fell to their death in the shaft. As a result of this accident, the ''Mining Act'' was amended to provide guide rails in shafts to prevent bucket swinging or overturning. * On 23 January 1933, a year after the mine closed, two men were killed in a gas explosion while preparing a drilling site on the 2900' level for an exploratory drill hole to locate methane gas. The coroner concluded that one of the miners struck a match to light his pipe and caused the explosion. * During the sealing of the Birthday Shaft on 20 April 1945, a rudimentary test was being undertaken which ignited escaping gas and caused an explosion below the seal. The company manager and two men were killed in the accident and another two men injured.See also
*Mining in Australia
Mining in Australia has long been a significant primary sector industry and contributor to the Australian economy by providing export income, royalty payments and employment. Historically, mining booms have also encouraged population growth ...
* Coal in Australia
Coal is mined in every state of Australia. The largest black coal resources occur in Queensland and New South Wales. About 70% of coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to eastern Asia, and of the balance most is used in electricity gene ...
References
Sources
* * * * Primefact 556, 2007. * {{cite news , url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223002090 , title=ACTS OF PARLIAMENT ASSENTED TO. , newspaper=Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales
The ''Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales'', also known as the ''New South Wales Government Gazette'', is the government gazette of the Government of New South Wales in Australia. The ''Gazette'' is managed by the New South Wales ...
, issue=142 , location=New South Wales, Australia , date=7 November 1924 , page=5087 , via=National Library of Australia
Buildings and structures in Sydney
Coal mines in New South Wales
Mines in New South Wales
Underground mines in Australia
Birchgrove, New South Wales
Tunnels in Sydney
1897 establishments in Australia
1945 disestablishments in Australia