Excelsior Colliery

Excelsior No. 1; Excelsior No. 2; Excelsior B

(Rev 6.1.1)

Time line:-

1895 – Coal first discovered in the Thirroul area in a creek bed off Ford’s Road.

 

1900 – Excelsior #1 opened by John S. Kirton at location of discovery 5 years earlier.

1900 – Excelsior opened at Thirroul Hts by John Stephen Kirton (Adams, “Beyond Bulli”)

 

1905 – Excelsior #2 (New Excelsior) opened by Thomas Ryan and P. Carroll (Harper)

1905 –Excelsior #1 & #2 become Excelsior Colliery (Adams, “Beyond Bulli”)

1905 – “The Excelsior Colliery, a small mine near Thirroul was opened”. (DoMAR 1905)

1905 – Excelsior Colliery – On 4^th Apr. Proprietors Messrs. Carroll & Ryan, notified the DoM of the appointment of Mr Patrick Carroll as manager of their Excelsior Colliery Listed as employing 2 men. (DoMAR 1905)

 

1906 – Patrick Carroll listed as permit manager for Excelsior. (DoMAR 1906)

1906, August 6^th – Thomas Ryan lodges abandonment papers for Excelsior Colliery, Thirroul, with Dept. of Mines (DoMAR 1906)

1906, October 17^th – J. S. Kirton advises DoM that he has acquired and appointed himself as manager of Excelsior Colliery (DoMAR 1906)

1906, 30^th October – J. S. Kirton advises DoM that he has re-opened the Excelsior Colliery, previously worked by Mr. T. Ryan (DoMAR 1906)

 

1907 – 12^th January – Mr. S. Kirton, on behalf of his brother, gives notice of the abandonment of Excelsior Colliery. (DoMAR 1907)

1907 – Reopened by Kirton & Earnshaw [The Kirton family was close friends with JC Jones, a manager of several mines in the Illawarra including Mt Keira, Sth Bulli and Austinmer].

1907 – 15^th October – Messrs Kirton & Earnshaw give notice of the appointment of Mr. J. Gibson as Mine Manager of Excelsior Colliery. (DoMAR 1907)

1907 – 16^th November – Messrs Kirton & Earnshaw give notice of the driving of a new tunnel at Excelsior Colliery, for haulage. (DoMAR 1907)

1907 – 25^th November – Machinery for the Excelsior mine at Thirroul is now being installed (SMH 25^th November 1907 pp8)

 

1908, January – The first coal was taken to Thirroul Station by horse drawn carts.

1908, January – “A 4ft seam is now being worked through to overcome the difficulties of a dyke” (SMH 13^th Jan 1908 pp8)

1908 – Excelsior Colliery Ltd registered in NSW as a public company.

1908 – 13^th May – J. S. Kirton gives notice of the appointment of himself as Mine Manager of Excelsior Colliery in Mr Gibson’s absence on leave. (DoMAR 1908)

1908 – 19^th October – J. S. Kirton gives notice of the appointment of Mr. Rees Bevan as Mine Manager of Excelsior Colliery, vice J. Gibson (resigned). (DoMAR 1908)

1908 – Excelsior Colliery listed as employing 15 men u/g and 2 at the surface. (DoMAR 1908)

 

1909 – Connected to the Government Railway at Kirton Siding.

1909 – Excelsior Colliery listed as employing 17 men u/g and 2 at the surface. (DoMAR 1909)

 

1910 – Excelsior still classified as a “small mine” by DoM, employing 27 men u/g and 3 at the surface. (DoMAR 1910)

 

1911 – Excelsior idle during installation of new incline and upgrading of the coal haulage system. (SMH 10/04/1911 p10)

1911 – Excelsior Colliery is discontinued for “a few weeks” then re-opens, listed as employing 26 men u/g and 6 at the surface. (DoMAR 1911)

1911, May – Connection to Government Railway at Kirton Siding confirmed. Production increases from 70 to 200 tons/day.

1911 – 29^th June – Mr. B. Kirton gives notice of the appointment of Mr. J. Gibson as Under-manager of Excelsior Colliery. (DoMAR 1911)

 

1912 – 21^st August – notice is given by Mr Rees Bevan, manager of Excelsior Colliery, of the opening of a tunnel on Sir W. Allen’s property known as “Madden’s”, Thirroul. (DoMAR 1912)

1912 – 29^th August – the acting secretary of Excelsior Colliery, Ltd notifies that Mr Rees Bevan has been appointed the manager of the mine being opened by Excelsior Colliery Ltd, on the property known as “Madden’s”, Thirroul. (DoMAR 1912)

1912 – The acting secretary of Excelsior Colliery, Ltd notifies that John Gibson was appointed the under-manager of the Excelsior Colliery, on 19^th February. (DoMAR 1912)

1912 – Excelsior still classified as a “small mine” by DoM, employing 47 men u/g and 17 at the surface. (DoMAR 1912)

 

1913 – Installation of new machinery is recently completed. (SMH24/6/1913 ex Trove)

 

1913 – A decision to enter Bellambi seam? Becomes Excelsior #2? Production commences c. June 1914 (Eardley, C. “Transporting the Black Diamond” Book 2 Draft Notes)

1913 – A new Waddle fan is installed at the No. 2 tunnel, Excelsior Colliery, commencing work on 4/1/1914. A small second outlet shaft is opened at Excelsior Colliery, listed as employing 90 men u/g and 24 at the surface. (DoMAR 1913)

 

1914 – 7^th April, Excelsior No. 2 Tunnel, R. Fullagher is appointed under-manager. (DoMAR 1914)

1914 – 4^th June, Excelsior No. 1 Tunnel, R. Fullagher is appointed under-manager vice Mr. Gibson. (DoMAR 1914)

1914 - A new tunnel was driven in 1914 with production rising to 750 tons/day. (Bayley, W. A. “Black Diamonds”.)

1914 – £6000 to be spent on new equipment to develop the colliery, having also acquired most of the old Austinmer leases (SMH 30/01/14 ex Trove)

1914 – Safety lamps are introduced into Excelsior #2 Tunnel with Excelsior #1 Tunnel being exempt. (SMH 20/5/1914 ex Trove)

1914 – 21^st October, a 5 hp generator is installed in the No. 2 Tunnel. (DoMAR 1914)

1914 – Excelsior listed as employing 147 men u/g and 31 at the surface. (DoMAR 1914)

 

1915 – Excelsior #2 Tunnel - Fatality – 24^th Aug. William Newton, 32, a miner (wheeler) from Woonona, injured (run over by several skips) on 24/04/1915, dies from his injuries leaving a wife and 3 children. (SMH 27/08/1915 ex Trove)(DoMAR 1915)

1915 – Excelsior listed as employing 193 men u/g and 37 at the surface. (DoMAR 1915)

 

Excelsior Colliery - c.1915 (Harper)

 

1916 - Coal screens were erected in 1916. (Bayley, W. A. “Black Diamonds”).

1916 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as employing 50 men u/g and 3 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 133 u/g and 41 at the surface. (DoMAR 1916)

1916/17 – Alterations to Kirkton Siding with the yard being extended northwards and the erection of coal screens. (Eardley, C. “Transporting the Black Diamond” Book 2 Draft Notes)

1917 – June - Excelsior Colliery Ltd shareholders resolve to voluntarily wind-up the co. and sell its assets for 85,000 paid up shares in a new company, Excelsior Collieries and Cokeworks Ltd with a nominal capital of £200,000 in £1 shares. (SMH 23/06/1917 ex Trove)

1917 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 193 days and employing 58 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 215.5 days with 122 u/g and 48 at the surface. (DoMAR 1917)

1918 - Excelsior Collieries and Cokeworks Ltd is listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange. (SMH 23/3/1918 ex Trove)

1918 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 247.75 days and employing 67 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 247.83 days with 88 u/g and 35 at the surface. (DoMAR 1918)

1918 – 28^th August, Excelsior Colliery, appoints. J. Scobie as Mine Manager with J. Cotton as Under-Manager of Excelsior No. 1 and No. 2 Tunnels. (DoMAR 1918)

1919 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 219.39 days and employing 62 men u/g and 17 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 223.87 days with 84 u/g and 18 at the surface. (DoMAR 1919)

 

1920 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 248.39 days and employing 74 men u/g and 3 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 249.63 days with 111 u/g and 37 at the surface. (DoMAR 1920)

1920 – Excelsior No. 1 – Ventilated by intake adit, 11’6” x 6’and return adit 7’6” x 7’ fitted with a Walker fan, 14’ dia. drawing 40,000 cfm air. (DoMAR 1920)

1920 – Excelsior No. 2 – Ventilated by intake adits, 10’ x 6’and 6’ x 6’ with the return adit 7’x 6’ fitted with a Schiele fan, 7’ dia. drawing 50,000 cfm air. (DoMAR 1920)

 

 

1921 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £32,162 (SMH 4/8/1921 ex Trove)

1921 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 218.63 days and employing 75 men u/g and 3 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 219.87 days with 91 u/g and 34 at the surface. (DoMAR 1921)

 

1922 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £28,701 (SMH 16/8/1922 ex Trove)

1922 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 186.5 days and employing 50 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 186.75 days with 94 u/g and 32 at the surface. (DoMAR 1922)

 

1923 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £18,010 (SMH 16/8/1923 ex Trove)

1923 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 240.13 days and employing 54 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 239.13 days with 79 u/g and 36 at the surface. (DoMAR 1923)

 

1924 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £17,840 (SMH 31/8/1924 ex Trove)

1924 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 215 days and employing 58 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 215 days with 73 u/g and 33 at the surface. (DoMAR 1924)

 

1925 - Excelsior #1 – 10^th Nov. Fatality – a miner, knocked over and killed by a piece of coal slipping off a greasy back. (DoMAR 1925)

1925 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as employing 59 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, with 89 u/g and 39 at the surface. (DoMAR 1925)

 

1926 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £13,615 Strikes by enginemen and firemen adversely affecting business. (SMH 11/8/1926 ex Trove)

1926 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 214 days and employing 60 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 214 days with 107 u/g and 39 at the surface. (DoMAR 1926)

 

1927 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £16,801 (SMH 6/8/1927 ex Trove)

1927 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as employing 53 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, with 98 u/g and 42 at the surface. (DoMAR 1927)

 

1928 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £3,750 Strikes cause mine to be idle for 28 weeks. (SMH 11/8/1928 ex Trove)

1928 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 214 days and employing 59 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 214 days with 132 u/g and 44 at the surface. (DoMAR 1928)

 

1929 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £20,882 (SMH 7/8/1929 ex Trove)

1929 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 242 days and employing 66 men u/g and 4 at the surface, Excelsior No. 2, 243 days with 158 u/g and 51 at the surface. (DoMAR 1929)

 

1930 – Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £18,288 (SMH 12/8/1930 ex Trove)

1930 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 217 days and Excelsior No. 2, 217 days. (DoMAR 1930)

 

1931 – No dividend is declared due to depression in coal trade. (SMH 31/01/1931ex Trove)

1931 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 161.5 days and Excelsior No. 2, 179.5 days. (DoMAR 1931)

 

1932 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £10,731 (SMH 3/8/1932 ex Trove)

1932 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 111 days and Excelsior No. 2, 118 days. (DoMAR 1932)

1933 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 100 days and Excelsior No. 2, 158 days. (DoMAR 1933)

 

1934 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £3,787 (SMH 22/8/1934 ex Trove)

1934 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 131 days and Excelsior No. 2, 215 days. (DoMAR 1934)

1934 – Excelsior #2 – Fatality – Peter Gallagher, miner, fall of face coal in 6 West, 8^th Aug. (DoMAR 1934)

1934 – Excelsior #2 – Fatality – A. Spowart, Deputy, knocked over by piece of stone, striking head on a skip near the buffer. 17^th Dec 1934. (DoMAR 1934)

 

1935 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £4,765 (SMH 19/8/1935 ex Trove)

1935 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 165 days and Excelsior No. 2, 201 days. (DoMAR 1935)

 

1936 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £10,731 Coledale Cokeworks written down to £4,000. (SMH 9/9/1936 ex Trove)

 

1937 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £2,220 (SMH 23/9/1937 ex Trove)

1937 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 228 days and Excelsior No. 2, 226 days. (DoMAR 1937)

1937 – The discovery of human remains in Excelsior Colliery expected to clear up the mystery of Robert Finwick who disappeared in October (Canberra Times 2/11/1937 ex Trove)

1937 – Excelsior #2 – Fatality – John Wigham, miner, stepped in front of a set of full skips on the surface tram line while walking home at EoS, 15^th Nov 1937. His companion, M. Morris, miner, was severely injured. (DoMAR 1937)

 

1938 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £2,209 (SMH 13/10/1938 ex Trove)

1938 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 200 days and Excelsior No. 2, 199 days. (DoMAR 1938)

 

1939 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £1,913 (SMH 29/9/1939 ex Trove)

1939 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 208 days and Excelsior No. 2, 216 days. A larger fan was installed at the Excelsior No. 2 Colliery mid-December, a double inlet Sirocco 105 in diam. (DoMAR 1939)

 

1940 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £1,863 (SMH 24/10/1940 ex Trove)

1940 – Excelsior Collieries & Coke Works, Ltd, reports that two fresh tunnels have been opened up, one of them will greatly increase the production of natural coke. A second coal cutting machine has been installed with a third on order. 90 days of strikes suffered during 1940. (SMH Thurs, 24/10/1940 p5 ex Trove)

 

1941 – Fatality – David Speed, 38 yrs., miner, by fall of stone from roof. (Cessnock Eagle & Sth Maitland Recorder, 17/01/1941, p6)

1941 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £987 (SMH 18/1/1941 ex Trove)

1941 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £840 (SMH 16/10/1941 ex Trove)

 

1941 – Electrification of the mine is almost complete. (DoMAR 1941)

 

1942 - Excelsior Collieries reports a loss of £6,850 (The Argus 17/11/1942 ex Trove)

 

1942, Jan – The War Cabinet discusses cancelling exemptions from military training for miners on strike with Corrimal and Excelsior going out over “trifling” reasons.

1942, Nov – Excelsior Colliery is on strike against the hotel owners having been given the option to refuse to serve schooners before 4pm. This is the 70^th unauthorised strike in NSW pits since National Security Regulations were introduced. (Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, 10/11/1942 p3ex Trove)

 

1943 – Excelsior No. 1 is on strike as a protest against the shortage of tobacco (Canberra Times, Wed 3/2/1943 p2 ex Trove)

1943 - Excelsior Collieries & Coke Works, Ltd encourages the opening of small mines on its own leases, Mr Kirton said at the AGM. Recently the North Bulli colliery at Coledale had been re-opened and the property purchased at Tongarra, adjoining the company’s own mine, was a going concern. (SMH Sat 18/12/1943 p5 ex Trove)

1944 – “Excelsior Colliery remains on strike”. Employs 300 men at 80 tons/day. (Cairns Post 14/12/1944 p5 ex Trove)

During the Second World War the Excelsior #1 was abandoned and concentration was on #2 with a new double tracked, self-acting tramway being established. (Eardley, C. “Transporting the Black Diamond” Book 2 Draft Notes)

 

1945 – Decision to close Excelsior #1

1945 – New self-acting tramway established for Excelsior #2

1945 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £2,588 but decision not to pay dividend (The Argus 8/12/1945 ex Trove)

 

1946 - Excelsior No. 1 and No. 2 were idle due to strike over clothes not having dried overnight. (West Australian, Wed 9/1/1946 p7 ex Trove)

1946 – Electricity discontinued to Excelsior #1 (DoMAR 1946)

1946 – Complaints lodged by residents re the noise emitted by the new fan. (Ill Mer. 27/4/1945)

1946 – Excelsior “B” pit idle due to men going home to listen to Louis-Conn fight broadcast (The Advertiser 21/6/1946 ex Trove)

1946 – First dividend since 1930 (excepting 1.47% in 1944) (The Argus 7/12/1946 ex Trove)

1946 – Excelsior No. 1 listed as working 73 days, Excelsior No. 2, 200 days and Excelsior Pit B, 198 days. (DoMAR 1946)

1947 – Fatality - Excelsior No. 2 – George Pepper, 58, Deputy, natural causes in bathroom (15/07/1947) (DoMAR 1947)

1947 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 204 days and having 162 electric safety lamps in use. Excelsior B Pit is listed as having 45 lamps in use. (DoMAR 1947)

1947 – 13^th May - Excelsior B Colliery is reported to have suffered a “flash” where the main haulage rope crosses the u/g haulage rope due to a defective earth system at the surface. (DoMAR 1947)

1947 – Excelsior No. 2 Colliery – production ceased between 4^th and the 18^th August due to elevated percentages of carbon dioxide (>1.25%) due to physical restrictions in the main return. (DoMAR 1947)

1947 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £3,632 (The Argus9/12/1947 ex Trove)

 

1948 - Excelsior Collieries reports a profit of £7,532 (The Argus16/12/1948 ex Trove)

1948 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 177 days and Excelsior Pit B, 184 days. (DoMAR 1948)

Excelsior #1 closed in 1948?

 

1949 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 186 days and having 164 electric safety lamps in use, Excelsior B Pit, 181 days and as having 43 lamps in use. (DoMAR 1949)

1950 – No. 2 seam opened to provide new airways for Excelsior No. 2 (DoMAR 1950)

1950 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 204 days and having 181 electric safety lamps in use, Excelsior B Pit, 206 days and as having 40 lamps in use. (DoMAR 1950)

 

1950 – 150 men from Excelsior #2 went on strike claiming that they did not get out of the pit in time to hear the broadcast of the Melbourne Cup. (Canberra Times 9/11/1950)

 

1951 – Excelsior “B” Mr. H. D. Dalzial listed as Manager (DoMAR 1951)

1951 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 199 days and having 181 electric safety lamps in use, Excelsior B Pit, (not listed) days and still as having 40 lamps in use. (DoMAR 1951)

1951 – Progress being made in driving future airways in the four foot seam for Excelsior No. 2 (DoMAR 1951)

 

1952 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 220 days and having 191 electric safety lamps in use, Excelsior B Pit, (not listed) days and still as having 41 lamps in use. (DoMAR 1952)

 

Excelsior “B” Pit (former Bulli Pass Colliery)

 

1953 – Progress in driving 2 airways in No. 2 seam for Excelsior No. 2 (DoMAR 1953)

1953 – Excelsior No. 2 listed as working 215 days. (DoMAR 1953)

 

1954 – Excelsior proposes to issue 70,000 17/- shares at ratio of 7 for 13 to finance the erection of a brickworks. (SMH 24/12/1954 ex Trove)

 

1955 – A new 4’ track was connected to a new mine just below Excelsior #2 Tunnel in the Four Foot seam. Fire clay produced and several brick kilns built adjacent to the mine. (Eardley, C. “Transporting the Black Diamond” Book 2 Draft Notes)

 

1957, 26^th November – Accident reported at Excelsior concerning a ladder and building.

 

1959 – Excelsior No. 2 Colliery described as; situated just above Thirroul. Total output about 500 t/day won by a mechanical unit in 1 North and by hand in solids in the Main West and by hand in pillars in 9 West. Excelsior “B” Pit situated just off Bulli Pass, All coal won by hand varying from 100 to 180 t/day. (DoMAR 1959)

 

1960 – Excelsior Collieries and Coke Works Ltd taken over by the Placer Development Ltd group of companies. (DoMAR 1960)

1960, 1^st June – Taken over by South Clifton Colliery Pty Ltd

1960 – A mobile roof bolter introduced into 1 North section of Excelsior #2 results in much improved roof conditions. Driveage in #2 seam headings stops. Intent to link with #1 seam returns and install an additional surface fan. (DoMAR 1960)

 

1961, September – Excelsior closes. (Both Eardley and Bayley)

 

1962 – Notices of Closure for Excelsior #2 and Excelsior “B” received by the Dept. of Mines. (DoMAR 1962).

Excelsior “B” – South of Bulli Pass 1938 – 1972. ? (AIS Geology Records indicate its location being “just north of Bulli #3 Tunnel)

            Excelsior No. 1 mine was opened by J. S. Kirton in 1900. Located just north of Bulli Pass, its product was natural coke and coal in near equal proportions, the coal selling locally.

Excelsior No. 2 was opened in 1905 by Ryan. Located immediately under the Bulli Lookout and in good coal, just north of the northernmost part of the Bulli cinder belt.

The mines together eventually became Excelsior Colliery with limited output in the initial few years.

(Opened in 1905 by Carroll & Ryan, selling to Kirton & Earnshaw after 8 months)

A public company, Excelsior Colliery Ltd formed in 1908

            Harper, L. F.  F.G.S.  Geology and Mineral Resources of the Southern Coal-Field, Part 1, The South Coastal Portion, Dept. of Mines, 1915.

Excelsior was connected to the Government railway by a siding at Thirroul in 1909

            from a paper by G. Sellers, 1976, The Illawarra Coalfield – A Brief History to 1905 presented at the AusIMM Conference, Illawarra, 1976.

Southern, J. N. L., 1978.  A Railway History of the Illawarra

Excelsior Colliery’s first tunnel opened 360’ asl ~3/4 mile NW of Thirroul Railway Station. Earlier work by Carroll & Ryan resulted in several opening and closings.

Reported as “work progressing in August 1905”.

A proposed tramway across Mr. Kennedy’s property halted proceedings until a Mr. Kirkton purchased the mining property however the mine closed again in 1906.

Reopened in 1907 by Kirkton & Earnshaw and the first coal was taken by horse drawn carts to Thirroul Railway Station in January 1908.

A tramway to connect with the main line was confirmed in May 1911 and coal production was lifted from 70 to 200 tons/day.

The Kirkton Siding was the original siding.

The skip tramway, a single 2’-0” track worked on the tail rope system, descending to the north east for some 400 metres. Curving due east along the top of a ridge for some 10 chains, resuming its north east direction until before Flanagan’s Ck, a trailing connection turned westwards to serve the “Four Foot Seam”. The Flanagan’s Ck was crossed by a log bridge, across Phillips Road and around the hill slope for a further 400m. Across “Skeleton Bridge” some 150’ in length and 40’ high, spanning a tributary to Flanagan’s Ck, easterly to the coal sorting bins at the company’s siding.

Excelsior #2 Colliery.

Excelsior #1 worked the Bulli seam & in 1913 it was decided to enter the Bellambi? (Balgownie) seam half a mile west of Kirkton Siding. Becoming known as Excelsior #2, commencing production circa 1914.

The mine closed in September 1961 the plant still lying derelict in Dec 1966.

Eardley, C. “Transporting the Black Diamond” Book 2 Draft Notes

Excelsior at Thirroul closed in 1961.

Bayley, W. A. “Black Diamonds”.

Excelsior Colliery closed in 1961?

Excelsior No.2 closed in 1962?

Excelsior B South of Bulli Pass 1938 – 1972.

***Excelsior “B” opens c. 1945 at the old Bulli Pass (Bulli Steam) Colliery site that closed in 1902. – extrapolated from list of mines as per R. Cairns