HIGHLIGHTS

• Opened: 1884?
• Location:
• Owner:   Illawarra Coal Co.
• Manager:
• Closed:
• Reopened:

DETAILED TIMELINE

1840 – A letter from the Australian Agricultural Company complains that a coal mine had been opened at Bulli by Capt. Westmacott on Por. 114, Parish of Woonona. (Royal Australian Historical Society – 1942)

1847 – Further attempts to open a mine by Capt. Westmacott. (Royal Australian Historical Society – 1942)

1876 – North Bulli Coal & Iron Mining Company purchases land north of Coledale, Wombarra and Scarborough. (Wollongong Library)

1884 – Illawarra Coal Co opens Austinmer mine. (Wollongong Library)

1886 – Coal is produced from Austinmer mine. (Wollongong Library)

1886 – Illawarra Coal Co opens Austinmer Mine and builds a jetty on Fisherman’s Beach. (Wollongong Library)

1887 – Coal steamer wrecked on rocks at Austinmer in June. (Wollongong Library)

1887 – First jetty at Hicks Point. (Wollongong Library)

1889 – Austinmer Colliery is shutting out men due to slack coal trade. (SMH 13/12/1889 p6 ex Trove)

1890 – Stoppage of work has occurred at the Austinmer colliery after the manager requested that the 20 men retained be married, objected to by the miners but upheld by the lodge. (SMH 16/01/1890 p8 ex Trove)

1890 – First coal sent from Austinmer (1606 tons). (Wollongong Library)

1890 – The Austinmer colliery dam overflows during heavy rain. (SMH 22/02/1890 p12 ex Trove)

1890 – Nine “free” labourers arrived at the Austinmer colliery to fill slack but after being met by unionists agreed to return. Two others reached the mine and placed themselves under police protection. (SHM 04/10/1890 p10 ex Trove)

1890 – “Black” labour in use at Austinmer Colliery. (The Argus 13/10/1890 ex Trove)

1890 – A large number of non-union labourers arrived at the colliery under the protection of a detachment of artillery and police to commence work. (Newcastle Mining Herald & Miner’s Advocate 18/10/1890 p4 ex Trove)

1890 – “…..the new manager of Austinmer colliery, Mr. Campbell, replacing Mr Jones ….” (Ill. Merc. 18/12/1890 p2 ex Trove)

1891 – Fatality at Austinmer Colliery, 9^th May. Oswald Spowart, 14 yrs, (one week out of school) crushed between horse drawn skips at the surface. (SMH 12/5/1891 ex Trove)

1891 – Austinmer Colliery works full time (SMH 28/8/1891 p6 ex Trove)

1891 – “….trade at Austinmer colliery is dull, having worked only 2 ¾ days for the month. (Ill. Merc. 19/12/1891 p1 ex Trove)

1892 – Nothing has been doing at the Austinmer colliery and every man remaining has been told that his services will no longer be required. The pit horses are being sold. (Ill. Merc. 9/04/1892 p1 ex Trove)

1892 – The wagons owned by Austinmer colliery have been leased to other southern collieries. (Evening News 25/04/1892 p5 ex Trove)

1892 – Austermere (sic) Clly reports 16 men u/g and 6 at the surface. 912 tons. (DoMAR 1892)

1893 – “Preparations are being made for the recommencement of North Bulli Mine (Austinmer). This mine has been shut down approximately 2 years. Mr John Mitchell is the managing proprietor” (SMH 24/5/1893 ex Trove)

1893 – The North Bulli (Austinmer) colliery, idle for up to two years, will recommence next week, 13/06/1893. (The Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 06/06/1893 p4 ex Trove)

1893 – The Austinmer colliery did nothing for the week. The miners have sent in their notices to cease work. (Evening News 08/08/1893 p5 ex Trove)

1893 – Austinmer Colliery strike continues, men refusing offer. (Advertiser 14/9/1893 ex Trove)

1893 – The Austinmer colliery miners are still on strike over a reduction in hewing rates related to the low seam height [3’ – 5’] (SMH 19/09/1893 p5 ex Trove)

1893 – Mr James Curley, secretary of the Miner’s Association, has received news that the strike at the North Bulli or Austinmer colliery still continues. (Newcastle Morning Herald & Miner’s Advocate 28/09/1893 p5 ex Trove)

1893 – Work was resumed at the Austinmer colliery on Tuesday, 7^th November. (Cootamundra Herald 11/11/1893 p7 ex Trove)

1893 – Austermere (sic) Clly reports 60 men u/g and 31 at the surface. 9,794 tons. (DoMAR 1893)

1894 – The North Bulli Colliery (Austinmer) worked……. (SMH 8/1/1894 ex Trove)

1894 – The Austinmer colliery is to cease work, the miners refusing the terms offered by the owner. (Barrier Miner 31/01/1894 p4 ex Trove)

1894 – Austinmer Colliery miners are notified of a reduction in pay from Feb 12^th. (Adelaide Advertiser 1/2/1894 ex Trove)

1894 – The AGM of the North Bulli Coal and Iron Mining Company heard the report that the jetty leased by Mr J. Mitchell of the Austinmer colliery @ 4d/ton had been handed back to the company, the lessee being released from their engagements. (SMH 13/02/1894 p7 ex Trove)

1894 – The Austinmer colliery has secured an order for 60,000 tons. (Queanbeyan Age 17/03/1894 p2 ex Trove)

1894 – A strike has occurred at the Austinmer colliery, the miners refusing to work a certain portion of lands at 2s2d/ton. (Evening News 19/04/1894 p5 ex Trove)

1894 – Rumoured that Mr Joseph Mitchell of the Austinmer colliery had secured the supply of 20,000 tons/annum to the German line of mail steamers. (SMH 07/09/1894 p6 ex Trove)

1894 – Austermere (sic) Clly reports 85 men u/g and 19 at the surface. 15,223 tons. (DoMAR 1894)

1895 – Austinmer Colliery is idle for whole week. (SMH 7/5/1895 ex Trove)

1895 – Sth Coast colliery returns; Austinmer Clly - 104 employees, 15,228 tons. (SMH 29/5/1895 ex Trove)

1896 – Men are thrown out of work due to the closing down of Austinmer Colliery, commonly known as the North Bulli Mine, for some years leased by Mr. Joseph Mitchell. (Aust. Town & Country Journal 29/2/1896 ex Trove)

1896 – Austermere (sic) Clly reports as being idle. (DoMAR 1896)

1899 – It is rumoured that the Austinmer Coal Mine, so long closed down, is likely to reopen. The jetty has been thoroughly repaired. The Austinmer Colliery belongs to the Allen family. (Shoalhaven Telegraph 15/03/1899 p2 ex Trove)

1901 – It is rumoured that the Austinmer Collieries (1 and 2) are to be started again. (Ill Merc. 14/02/1901 p2 ex Trove)

1907 – “Austinmer Colliery is now closed”.  (SMH 19/6/1907)

1914 – Cr. J. S. Kirton, a director of the Excelsior Colliery Ltd., announced that the board of directors had agreed to spend £6,000 to the development of the mine. The company has secured almost all of the old Austinmer colliery leases.

1915 - Idle for some years now (1915). Bulli seam only worked. Thickness reduced to west & south west from 5’ to <3’. Cinder in other parts of colliery. (Harper 1915 pp157)

Plan of Austinmer Collieries - view in HD

1946 – 17 mines are now idle incl. Austinmer Central (40t/day) (SMH 30/11/1946 ex Trove)

1946 – Austinmer Central Colliery works 198 days. (DoMAR 1946)

1947 – Austinmer Central Clly reports as having 12 electric cap lamps. (DoMAR 1947)

1948 – Austinmer Central Clly works 211 days. On the DoM inspection list. (DoMAR 1948)

1949 – Austinmer Central Clly inspected by DoM (DoMAR 1949)

1950 – Austinmer Central Clly inspected by DoM 12 electric cap lamps listed. (DoMAR 1950)

1951 – Austinmer Central Clly reports as having 20 electric cap lamps. (DoMAR 1951)

1952 – Police are hopeful of apprehending the thieves who stole a 5 hp flameproof motor from Austinmer Central Colliery on 17/09/1952. The Colliery manager, Mr. M. Condy, told police the motor was to be used to pump water from the mine. (Ill Merc. 20/09/1952 p9 ex Trove)

1952 – Austinmer Central Clly reports as having 20 electric cap lamps. (DoMAR 1952)

1953 – Austinmer Extended Colliery - Fatality – 21^st Aug, Joseph Anderson, 38 yrs., miner, killed by fall of stone. (Ill Merc. 22/08/1953 p3 ex Trove)

1959 – Austinmer Central Colliery [Genders Mining Co] situated on Buttonshaw Drive above Thirroul, under control of a permit manager. A small diesel loco introduced to haul coal to the surface. Access is by 2 tunnels. Austinmer Central Clly produces 40 tons/day by hand mining. (DoMAR 1959)

1963 – Austinmer Central Colliery is abandoned. (DoMAR 1963)

1963 – The entrance to Austinmer Colliery is bricked up (Wollongong Library)