1790 - 1850

1790

1791 First discovery of coal in Australia at Newcastle by escaped convicts.
1797 Illawarra coal deposits first officially documented by George Bass (near Coalcliff)

1820

1821 O'Brien, Cornelius - granted 300 acres in the vicinity of Bulli
1828 Australian Agricultural Co. has monopoly on coal - Shoobert is blocked from opening a coal mine.

1830

1836 Westmacott, Capt. Robert Marsh - purchases 300acres land from Cornelius O'Brien
1837 Plunkett, John Herbert - on his property "Keelogues" ("Gundarun") 1280acres
1837 Construction starts on Belmore Basin, Wollongong Harbour
18xx Wylie, John obtains 2000 acres ("Dunlop Vale", north of Mullet Ck., Dapto) then loses it to Andrew Lang, the father of Rev. Dr. D. J. Lang.
1839 Australian Agricultural Co. complains that Capt. Westmacott has opened mine at Bulli on land purchased from O'Brien (not proceeded with)
1839 Rev. W. B. Clark, Geologist, commences examination of South Coast coal measures.

1840

1841 Owen, Robert purchases coal land
1844 Construction of Belmore Basin completed.
1846 Owen, Robert (later Judge Owen), purchases land at Jamberoo
1848 Albert Mine (aka Shoobert’s Mine) - Tunnel in 5m seam (Wongawilli sm.) under Mt. Keira by James Shoobert.
1849 Albert Mine (aka Shoobert’s Mine) - Tunnel in second seam (1.2m), the 4' seam (Albert sm.), located above first.
1849 First coal mined for sale taken to Wollongong harbour by horse dray (27th August) by James Shoobert. Mined from the 4' seam.
1849 Wollongong Bay - first coal mined, loaded on SS "William the Fourth"