Rev.0

Erith Colliery

1881 ~ 1897

Opened: Original location 1867
Location: Bundanoon Creek
Owner: Martin Larkin
Seam:- Wongawilli (assumed)
Closed: circa 1897

1867 Martin Larkin takes out Mineral Rights on his own property at Jordans Crossing (now known as Bundanoon.)

1871 200 tons valued at 160 raised during 1871-1872 period from the mine known as Rock-roof.

1871 1881 Rock-roof Mine lies idle

1881 Messrs. Baker (A.E & Sons) open up a seam of coal at or near the old Rock-roof Mine naming it Erith Colliery.

1881 a limited amount of coal placed on market from Erith Colliery.

1881 1882 18 men were raising 50 ton per day mainly for use on the railways.

1882 1883 20 men employed

1883 1884 40 men raised 10,492 tons

1884 contracts for the supply of 16,000 tons per year to the railways obtained.

1884 1885 labour force fell to 24 men raising only 1,811 tons

1885 latter half of year saw only 2 men employed with work almost suspended due to lack of sales.

1886 1887 no work undertaken.

1887 March 1887 the property of 250 acres plus winding engine, tram line, tools etc were advertised for sale through Tucker & Co. Sydney.

1896 Messrs. Palmer & Coppard reopened the mine and production restarted

1896 December the operation was on half time basis and later abandoned.

1915 The Erith Colliery Siding was removed on the 13th September 1915.

As the mine was established some 25 metres below the cliff tops, a wooden platform was built projecting horizontally from the cliff top, out into the valley void. Through a hole in this platform, skips loaded with coal were hoisted from the mine entrance in the valley.

It would appear that the loaded skips were then drawn along a single track some 300 yards long by horse, to a siding on the Great Southern Railway line for screening and loading into government railway wagons.


Excerpts from Light Railways, No. 130 October 1995, Jim Longworth, a publication compiled by The Light Railway Research Society of Australia Inc.

See also:-

Rockroof Mine