Huntley Colliery

1946 – 1989

(Rev 2.2)

Located below the escarpment at Avondale, west of Dapto, Huntley Colliery was first opened as a small hand worked mine from the outcrop in the Tongarra seam of the Illawarra Coal Measures by the Waugh Bros. (Phil, Frank and William) in 1946.

1946 – Reported as commencing in June and working 127 days in 1946. (DoMAR 1946)

Originally named Huntly, as the family had an affiliation with Huntly in New Zealand, it was purchased by the Joint Coal Board on 27^th July, 1951 and by the Electricity Commission of NSW on 15^th June, 1955 to service the requirements of the newly constructed Tallawarra Power Station on the western shores of Lake Illawarra.

Mr. M. (“Mick”) N. Nielsen was appointed the first Mine Manager in October 1951.

1951- Initial purchase; 1 x International Bulldozer with modified blade. Used to establish the surface platform.

1952 – April, Wongawilli seam exposed. Coal samples taken.

1952 – June 14-15^th. 17 inches (432 mm) rain recorded, preventing coal trucks to operate.

1952 – June 23^rd, M&C 8BU loader commences operation.

1952 – July 15^th, Joy Continuous Miner #1 – commences operation (32 tons).

1952 – Nov, Wongawilli drivages had commenced using M&C 8BU Loader and 42D battery shuttle car. Tongarra seam was progressing using a Continuous Miner and cable reel shuttle car.

1952 - Dec, excavations for weighbridge on Avondale Road commenced.

1952 – Dec 8^th, Joy 10RU Coal Cutter in service in Ww seam

1953 – Aug 25^th, JCM #2 with Joy 11BU loader and Joy 10SC shuttle cars operational in the Wongawilli seam.

1953 – Sept 3^rd, Jeffrey L600 Loader in Ww seam

1953 – 151,540 tons produced.

1954 – 249,000 tons produced.

 

1955 – June 15^th, Huntley Colliery Pty Limited formally changes ownership to the Electricity Commission of NSW.

1955 – August, the permanent workshop is completed, however the bathroom facilities remained inside the bulk store with the lamp cabin and supervisory staff. Manpower remains constant at 135 employees.

The power station came on stream with No. 1 Unit going on full load on the 6^th September 1954, the other units coming on line sequentially until 1961 when No. 6 Unit gave the station a total capacity of 320 MW. Coal was transported to the power station some 7.5 km by road.

1957 – Fatality – Oscar Goesche, 40, bulldozer driver, buried under some 80 tons of rock while establishing the surface platform (above the bathroom and office block).

1960 – January – The main heading area and the No. 1 North Panel of the Tongarra seam workings suffer extensive “floor heave” constituting a “creep”, attributed to the small pillar sizes in the Tongarra seam and the pillar extraction in the No 1 North panel of the Wongawilli seam.

1961 – Fatality – D. O. Roberts, lorry driver (15/08/1961) DMR Report 1961

The mine continued to expand and with the increasing world demand for coking coal, both domestic (AIS) and export (Japanese) markets were sourced.

1965 – A pilot washing plant consisting of 6 x diester tables proves successful with a larger, full scale plant planned. (DoMAR 1965)

By 1966 the mine’s production peaked at 1,037,829 tons (weighed), the first to do so in Australia, and remained near this level for 14 years with a maximum of 488 employees.

1966 – A dense media washery (356t/hr) is commenced after completing the associated bathrooms and workshops. New tunnels in the Tongarra seam are being driven for improved ventilation adjacent to the existing transport and central belt haulage tunnels. (DoMAR 1966)

In January, 1967 a dense media washery was commissioned to produce a high fluidity coking coal.

1968 – Fatality – John Murray, S/C operator, crushed by dislodged prop. (22/5/1968)

As rail was not available, coking coal was transported to the BHP Port Kembla steel works or coal loader by road, approximately 20 kms from the washery site.

Additional leases were sought and granted by an extension southerly to Macquarie Pass

In November, 1971, Tongarra North was commenced from the outcrop, being mined by JCMs #4 and #7, the panel produced some 55,842 tons and was completed in October 1972 after 278 production shifts.

1979 – Fatality – Douglas Rhodes, shunter, run over by blue metal skip. (30/11/1979)

In June 1982, a decline in the world demand for high quality coking coal and a downturn in power generation requirements led to a sequence of rationalisation to cope with the reduced demand. This coincided with the conclusion of Huntley’s contract with the AI&S.

On 17/01/1983, the adjacent Avondale Colliery closed and was purchased by Huntley, incorporating it into their leasehold,

In 1983 Huntley was limited to a reduced capacity of 450,000 tons/annum to supply Tallawarra Power Station (itself operating out of priority) and/or for local or export consumption. A system of “natural attrition” was introduced reducing the workforce by 91 to 349.

Modifications to the coal beneficiation system were added in 1983/84 by way of a dry screening plant prior to the washery, virtually eliminating the production of tailings.

1984 – Fatality – W. Kaul, (6/9/1984)

1985 – Fatality – William John Rowan, roof fall. (17/01/1985)

In December, 1985, it was reported in the Illawarra Mercury that an unusually high rate of a rare form of cancer had been diagnosed amongst the miners at Huntley Colliery. Seven men were currently unable to work, diagnosed with lymphoma (out of a workforce of 400) and two others had died from lymphoma during the 1960’s.

A major investigation was approved in February, 1986, and funded by the Federal Government, headed by Dr. Steve Corbett of the South Coast Worker’s Medical Centre (who raised the alarm initially) and Dr. Barry O’Neill, a Wollongong Hospital haematologist. A comprehensive workplace environment survey was undertaken at the colliery by a combined group of selected persons becoming known as the “Lymphoma Committee”.

As the cause of non-Hodgekin’s lymphoma was unknown, test were conducted relating to oil mist, airborne dust, radon levels, electrostatic and electromagnetic fields, the presence of particular substances in the atmosphere and tested generally for unusual levels of certain chemicals, herbicides, pesticides and PCBs.

Nothing was identified as being especially different and the investigation concluded as the incident being a statistical anomaly. However from the investigation came a cancer register to assist in tracking down the incidence of all cancers among Southern Districts coal miners.

Further reductions were found to be necessary and in 1987 a Voluntary Retrenchment Scheme was introduced, reducing the workforce by a further 120 to 229, with coal delivered to Tallawarra being restricted to a maximum of 280,000 tonnes/annum.

In 1989, discussions surrounding the proposed plans to expand Tallawarra Power Station by the addition of 2 x 660 MW generators (“C” station) revived and lifted expectations at the mine and within the local community however, the decision not to proceed subsequently led to the demise and closure of Huntley Colliery.

On 14^th June, 1989, the Chairman of the Electricity Commission of NSW announced the closure of Tallawarra Power Station and Huntley Colliery. On 17^th July, 1989, the total workforce of Huntley was retrenched.

The closure was complete when on the 12^th, 13^th and 14^th of August, 1989; an auction was held on site of all the colliery’s remaining equipment including;

5 x 5012N Marietta and 1 x AM50 Alpine continuous miners,   4 x HE 10-50 shuttle cars

4 x 24 seat Gemco Battery man cars and 2 x 25 tonne Gemco Battery locomotives

1 x Baldwin diesel locomotive

5 x PETs, Mk3 and Mk6

1 x Eimco LHD 913

1 x Domino Minesmobile Mk7

2 x Mine fans (162” & 96”) and 10 x auxiliary underground fans

15 drive heads and 21 km of conveyor belt, 30 km of Victaulic pipe

1 x 400 t/hr dense media washing plant

6 x motor vehicles   etc etc.

On the 6^th September, 1989, after allegations of toxic material being dumped underground in the 1960’s, a committee was set up under Mr. R.Burbidge QC and a further inquiry related to the lymphoma concerns instigated.

After taking evidence in both Sydney and Wollongong Courts, adjourning for several weeks to permit additional testing, the final hearing was on 16^th March, 1990. Mr. Burbidge QC, in his executive summary of the inquiry report stated in part;

“The Committee concludes that there has been established no identifiable circumstance peculiar to Huntley Colliery likely to increase the risk of persons contracting cancer”. Dated 9^th April, 1990.

During the majority of its lifetime Huntley Colliery worked both the Wongawilli and Tongarra seams simultaneously. A bord and pillar mine, utilising pillar extraction, the underground workings were serviced by rail and rubber tyred equipment. Rubber tyred self propelled vehicles loaded with supplies were “piggybacked” by flattops from the surface to within approximately 1 kilometre of the working faces. In the main the Tongarra seam was serviced only by rubber tyred vehicles.

Access was by adits directly into the outcrop, a 1:17 drift from the Tongarra seam up to the Wongawilli seam with all coal exiting the mine via the Tongarra seam after passing though a 1000 tonne inter seam bin from the Wongawilli seam. A Bradford Breaker was installed at seam level prior to a crushing plant from where it descended by overland conveyor to the coal preparation plant at the base of the foothills. Coking and fuel coal products were transported by road to either Pt. Kembla or Tallawarra P. S. the rejects being transported by conveyor and then truck to one of several stockpiling areas or utilised in the making of tailings dams on site.

Ventilation of the Wongawilli seam was by means of a 280 metre upcast shaft and a 162” Hi Flow centrifugal fan drawing 150 m³/sec and serving 6 continuous miner panels.

The Tongarra seam was ventilated independently by a 96” Richardson axial flow fan situated at the seam outcrop, drawing some 70 m³/sec and serving 2 continuous miner panels.

Typical roadway support during the mid 1980’s was:-

Wongawilli seam – 4.7 m wide with 4.5 m purlins or straps at 1.5 m centres. 2.7 m x 25 mm chemically anchored roof bolts (2 per strap with a centre bolt when required). Continuous rib strapping using 1 m bolts at 1.5 m centres.

Tongarra seam – 4.3 m wide with 4 hole x 4 m W straps at 1 m centres. 2.1 x 25 mm chemically anchored roof bolts (4 per strap at 1.2 m centres) Continuous rib strapping retained by 1 m bolts at 1.5 m centres.

The transition to longwall extraction was the subject of several studies but did not get beyond the feasibility stage.

The leasehold is dissected by numerous WNW-ESE trending dykes, (approximately 6 per square km), a large area of the Tongarra seam cindered and the Wongawilli seam has been intruded by major silling (one borehole indicating > 20 metres thick), all contributing to difficulties in mine development layout.

Indicated recoverable reserves (>2.0m section) remaining in the Wongawilli and Tongarra seams upon closure was in excess of 70 million tonnes.

Mine Managers have included:-

1. N. Nielsen.  Oct. 1951 – Jan. 1961

Daniel Hanrahan.  Jan. 1961 – Apr. 1964

Harold Sharp.  Apr. 1964 – Apr. 1965

Roger Marshall.  Apr. 1965 – Apr. 1968

Don Eager.  Apr. 1968 – Aug. 1980

Rod Burston (Dep. Man.  Nov. 1979); Mine Manager Aug. 1980 – closure 1989.

Typical Coal Specifications – 1989.

Washery Feed (Wongawilli/Tongarra coal ratio 65/35%)

	Wongawilli seam coal	Tongarra seam coal
Ash% (a.d.)	33	30
V.M.% (a.d.)	22	21
Spec. En. (Mj/kg)	22	25
S (total)%	0.4	0.5
M (inherent)%	0.9	0.8

Washery Product

	Fuel coal to Power Station	Coking coal
Ash% (a.d.)	28	11
V.M.% (a.d.)	21	28
Spec. En. (Mj/kg)	25	32
M (total)% (a.s.)	5	10
H.G.I.	64	76
Sizing	38 x 0.5 mm	16 x 0 mm
CSN	3
Ash Fusion (deg C)	1460
F.C%		60
Gray King		G10
Max. Fluidity  (ddm)		>14,000
Max. Mean Reflect.		1.1

1989 – The ceasing of production at the mine and the phasing out of Tallawarra Power Station was announced on 14^th June, 1989. Tallawarra was commissioned in the mid 1950’s and Huntley expanded to meet its needs. The price of coal from Huntley and the subsidy involved in the Electricity Commission’s continued purchase of coal for Tallawarra was considerably higher than other coals plus Tallawarra’s efficiency was lower than other power stations.

Huntley mineworkers were given the offer of full retrenchment payment, including 4 weeks’ notice or pay in lieu.

Tenders for sale of the mine closed on 25^th Oct. 1989. (The Electricity Commission of NSW, Annual Report 1989)  

Huntley Colliery Pty Limited freehold lands were sold on 26^th October 1999 to HTT Huntley Heritage Pty Limited.

TALLAWARRA POWER STATION (ex Trove)

1949 – Proposed expenditure of £800,000 by Southern Electricity Supply for power house plant including a large initial expenditure for the first stage of the new Tallawarra P.S., proposed to have 150,000kw capacity. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 25/08/1949 p1)

1950 – The NSW Joint Coal Board may buy Huntly Colliery at West Dapto. (Ill Merc, 29/07/1950 p3)

 

1951 – Sleepers are being installed at Yallah for the rail connection to Tallawarra. (Ill Merc, 02/06/1951 p6)

 

1951 – 600 employees are engaged in the construction of Tallawarra P.S. Erection of the first (of 8) boiler now 100’ (30m) high. Erection of the first (of 2) smokestack has commenced. The rail connection between Yallah and Tallawarra P.S. is progressing. The ash pond construction is progressing. (Ill Merc, 04/12/1951 p3).

1951 – Fatality – 12^th Dec 1951, William Monro, 35, welder’s ass’t of Oak Flats. Fell from power house. (Ill Merc, 13/12/1951 p1)

 

1952 – Construction of the mains water supply from Dapto Reservoir to Tallawarra P.S. in progress as is a new concrete road from the Prices Hwy. (Ill Merc, 21/04/1952 p2)

1952 – Reconstruction of Avondale Road commenced, to be sealed and serve Huntley colliery for the provision of coal to Tallawarra P.S. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 03/07/1952 p1)

1952 – Retrenchments at Tallawarra P.S. expected soon as work is reducing. (Ill Merc, 05/08/1952 p1)

 

1952 – Work at Tallawarra P.S. to be slowed, Wangi P.S. to be given priority. (Ill Merc, 23/09/1952 p5)

 

1953 – Fatality – 20^th Mar 1953, Charles Howson, 33, of Oak Flats. Fell while working inside one of the chimneys. (Kiama Independent 21/03/53 p1)

1954 – The first of the 4 generators at Tallawarra P.S. goes into operation. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 24/06/1954 p1)

1954 – The State Premier (J. J. Cahill) officially opens Tallawarra P.S. on Friday, 22/10/1954 at 2.15pm with the first of the 4 x 30kw generators. (SCT & W’Gong Argus, 25/10/1954 p1)

1954 – The State Premier announces that the State Government (Electricity Commission) will purchase Huntley Colliery to service Tallawarra P.S. (Daily Examiner (Grafton) 09/11/1954 p1)