1855 Shoobert’s Mine (aka Albert Mine) - closes 17' seam (Wongawilli ), 4'2" seam ( Balgownie) still producing still low. (SMH-27thSept). 1856 Albert Mine - plus Mt. Keira home (137 acres) auctioned by Rod Shoobert 1857 Osborne-Wallsend Colliery in third & uppermost seam, 8' (2.1m), located on eastern face of Mt. Keira. In this 8' seam was second coal mine, owned by Henry Osborne. 1857 Osborne-Wallsend Colliery - the first coal from this the No. 1 or Bulli seam was shipped on April 16. 1857 Bellambi Colliery - (aka Hale's, Woonona & Model Colliery) started by Thomas Hale in 8' seam. 1857 First coal shipped from Bellambi Harbour (17/12/57) 1857 Henry Osborne purchases 1/2 of Hale's Bellambi property for $14,000 1858 Russell-Vale Colliery opens at Bellambi ?? 1858 Bellambi No2 Colliery - commences (Taylor, Walker & Longmore) 1 mile north of Bellambi Colliery 1858 Bellambi Cove - used for cedar - attempt to build jetty 1859 Bellambi mine - Henry Osborne acquires 1/2 share. 1859 Osborne - Wallsend Coal Mine Co. formed to build tramway to Wollongong (Capital of $500,000) 1859 Osborne-Wallsend Mine - Henry Osborne dies, taken over by Osborne-Wallsend Co.
1860
1860 Thomas Hale engages man to sink shaft near Woonona Post Office - 6' of coal, 12' below surface. 1861 Bulli Colliery - opened 1861 Tunnel driven at site of Old Bulli Mine?? 1861 Mt. Pleasant Colliery - opened by Lahiff & Fawcett for Illawarra Coal Co. on Mr. Plunkett's property. 1861 Bulli & Bellambi Coal Co. incorporated 1861 Russel Vale Colliery - proposed 1861 Construction starts on Mt. Keira tramway 1862 Russel Vale Colliery - opened on Osborne's land by Taylor & Walker 1862 Mt. Pleasant - Tramway built to Wollongong Harbour 1862 Bulli Colliery - coal shipped to Ballarat 1862 Bellambi Colliery & Woonona Coal Mine - Thomas Hale becomes insolvent. 1863 Bellambi Cove - attempt to build jetty 1863 Bellambi Colliery - (aka Hale's Mine & Woonona Mine) closes (bankrupt), (reopens off & on over next 60 years) 1863 Old Bulli Colliery - officially commences June 23rd 1863 Bulli Bight - major attempt to build jetty - washed away within 12 months 1863 Bulli jetty - Schooners "Moselle", "Tiger" & "George" commence operations, Bulli to Port Jackson. 1863 Screw Steamer "Woniora" commences making 3 trips per week to Sydney. 1863 "Ironside" (June) 790 tons to Shanghai from Bulli jetty. 1863 Bellambi Colliery - closes for 25 years ?? 1863 "A drift is working 4 miles south of Dapto & more than 20 miles south of Mr. Hales" - Gov. Examiner of Coalfields 1864 Russell Vale Colliery – closed due to depressed market, attempt to reopen fails 1864 Bellambi Colliery - reopens ?? by Bulli & Bellambi Coal Co. Merges w/- Sth. Bulli Colliery 1864 250' of Sandon Point (Bulli Colliery) jetty washed away in June - mining ceased until repaired 1864 Bellambi Cove - jetties abandoned 1865 Pioneer Kerosene Works - opened, owner John Graham Jnr. Mt. Kembla, American Ck seam 1866 HM "Tiger" - January, washed ashore at Bulli - loss of 3 lives. 1867 Mt. Pleasant Colliery – acquired by James & William Byrnes 1867 Bulli & Bellambi Coal Co. formed with capital of $60,000 - obtained 600 acres from O'Brien and Messrs Somerville & Black. 1867 Osborne-Wallsend Colliery - Messrs. Tulip, Nixon & Jackson sell interest to Messrs. Robson & Spiers. 1867 Bulli Colliery - steam locos introduced. 1867 "Moselle" - Mar. stranded on beach at Bulli. 1867 "George" - May, 22, smashed on beach at Bulli. 1867 Bulli Bight - Part of Sandon Point (Bulli Colliery) jetty rebuilt - washed away June 21st. (4 men died), 40 wagons lost 1867 "Matador" - lost on Bulli beach - Sept. 7th. 1867 "Bright Planet" - lost on Bulli beach - Sept. 7th. 1868 Wollongong Harbour basin complete. 1868 "Barwon" commences coal trade to Sydney from Bulli jetty.
1870
1870 Towradgi or Balgownie tunnels reported upon - became Corrimal Colliery in 1883 1871 Messrs. Robson & Spiers retires, Osborne-Wallsend Colliery reverts to Osborne family. 1871 Bulli Jetty in use (fig.11 "History of Coal Mining in Australia") 1871 "Barwon" wrecked. 1873 Mt. Pleasant Colliery - installs self acting incline (fig 13 HCMA) from "Sydney Mail" 1873 SS "Bulli" - arrives at Bulli Jan. 22 (500 ton cap.) from Plymouth. 1875 Pioneer Kerosene Works - operations suspended. 1875 SS "Woonona" - arrives Dec. for Bulli - Melbourne - Adelaide trade 1876 SS "Merksworth" - arrives for Bulli - Melbourne - Adelaide trade 1876 Pioneer Kerosene Works - operations reopened 1876 North Bulli Coal & Iron Mining Co. formed to open mine on North Bulli Estate see 1902 1876 Osborne erects coke ovens near Wollongong using colliery slack coal. 1877 SS "Bulli" - lost July on voyage to Tasmania.
1878 Nth Bulli Coal & Iron Co. opens a mine near Coledale 1878 Coalcliff Colliery – commences - January - (Coalcliff Mining Co) 6 miles north of Bulli Pass – by Clarke & Robertson, Thomas Hale as manager. 1878 Pioneer Kerosene Works - operations closed 1878 Mt. Kembla - The Mt. Kembla Coal & Oil Co. Ltd. formed to work coal from the property producing kerosene shale. 1878 A "Nth Bulli Colliery" (aka Coledale Colliery) commences (lasted 25 yrs) replaced by B pit (Nth Bulli) 1878 Coal Cliff jetty built - washed away 5 months later 1878 Steam locos replace horses on tramways 1878 Mt. Keira Colliery - ventilation headings called; Pratts (horse access); Porters; Rings; McGoldricks. 1879 Mt. Keira Colliery - steam locos introduced (Keira No.1 & No.2) 1879 Coalcliff Colliery - installs Furnace Ventilation
1880
1880 Corrimal Colliery - opens at Mt. Corrimal ?? 1880 Clifton Colliery - opens 1880 Coalcliff Colliery - Charles Harper replaces Thomas Hale as manager 1880 Mt. Kembla Mine - opens but short of capital - company then formed in England. 1881 Coal Cliff jetty rebuilt - washed away - mine closed for 4 months 1882 Bulli Colliery - tunnel into Balgownie seam 1882 Woonona Old Tunnel Colliery - opens. 1882 "Woniora" - Oct 28, founders off Botany Bay - loss of 17 lives 1882 Mt. Kembla Colliery - opens in 7' seam. (5 good seams of coal) - jetty built. 1883 Coalcliff Colliery - Charles Stuart replaces Charles Harper as manager 1883 Corrimal Colliery - opened by Thomas Bertram 1883 Mt. Keira Colliery - No.1 shaft sunk to #2 seam (102m) & fitted w/- steam driven Walker fan, 12' dia. 100,000 cfm '@ 3/4" water gauge, replacing 3 furnace shafts 1883 Mt. Kembla Colliery - steam locos introduced 1883 Mt. Kembla jetty - at Five Islands Point (Pt. Kembla) built - 6m water & 120t/hr. 1884 North Illawarra Coal Co. proposes to open 3 mines on Westmacott’s (between Excel No 2 & Nth Bulli) 1884 North Illawarra No. 1 Colliery - opens on site of old colliery started in 1878 by Nth Bulli Coal & Iron Co. 1884 South Cumberland Coal Mining Co. - formed to mine coal at Camp Ck. 1884 Long Point Jetty - Nth Illawarra Coal Co. - Austinmer built 1884 Corrimal Colliery - sold by Thomas Bertram to Southern Coal Co. ( incorporated in Eng.) 1884 Austinmer Colliery - steam locos introduced 1884 Mt. Pleasant Colliery - steam locos introduced 1884 Brokers Nose Colliery - proposed 1885 Brokers Nose Colliery - commences July (Brookers Nose Coal Co. sic) 1885 Bulli (Sth) - (Russell Vale Colliery site) commences 1886 Russell Vale Colliery - reopens as Sth Bulli Colliery under Thomas Saywell 1886 Nth Mt. Pleasant Mine - opens 2km north of original site. 1886 Bulli A & Bulli B - both working 1887 Bellambi jetty - Sth Bulli Colliery - built w/- 6.9m water loading @ 200 t/hr 1887 Sth Bulli Colliery - first coal shipped in November 1887 Bulli Colliery - 86 lives lost in explosion at 2.30 pm March 23rd. 1887 Bellambi Colliery - steam locos introduced 1887 Austinmer Colliery - (aka Westmacott’s) commenced 1887 Long Point Jetty - 8m water @ high tide - load @ 120t/hr - "Waratah" wrecked. 1887 Five Islands Point - Southern Coal Co. - jetty built.
1888 Bellambi Coal Co. established 1888 Corrimal Colliery - taken over by Southern Coal Co. 1888 The Mt. Pleasant Coal & Iron Mining Company Ltd. Established 1888 Helensburgh Colliery - opened in March. 1889 Bellambi - second jetty built 1889 Model Colliery - opens Nov 9, on same site as Woonona (Hales) Old Tunnel Colliery - by Bellambi Coal Co.. 1889 South Bulli Colliery - reopens (William Wilson, Manager) employing 270 men 1889 Woonona Colliery - steam locos introduced 1889 Mt. Pleasant Coke Ovens - opens in Nth Wollongong. (next to railway bridge) 1889 Coalcliff Colliery - virtually closes 1889 Brokers Nose Colliery - closes, Sth Bulli & Brokers Nose Co. combine- renames mine " Corrimal Colliery"
1890
1890 Corrimal Colliery - purchased by Southern Coal Co.(Ill. Mercury. 7/1/90) 1890 Sth Bulli Colliery - purchased by Ebenezer Vickery 1890 Another Mt. Kembla Mine? - opened in 1887 ( Sthn Coal Co.) - closes 1890 Ocean View Colliery - opened by Illawarra Harbour & Land Corp. sth of Mt. Kembla. Connected to the western shore of Lake Illawarra by 10.8km railway - rail crossing opened in 1895 but closed in 1902 - jetty idea abandoned due to problems dredging lake. Decision then made to make Pt. Kembla coal loading point. 1891 Corrimal Colliery - taken over by Corrimal-Balgownie Collieries (subsequently Corrimal Coal & Coke Pty Ltd.) 1891 Sth Bulli Colliery - small explosion kills 1 man 1891 South Clifton Colliery - opens 1892 Coalcliff Colliery - purchased by Ebenezer Vickery & John Keir Clark 1892 South Clifton Colliery - opens 1892 Mt. Kembla Colliery - 12.5 km railway to Red Point (Pt. Kembla) 1893 Tongarra Colliery - started by William Brownlee (@ 800' asl) Aug. - 40' into "the purest & best gas coal some 22' thick." 1893 SS "Woonona" - wrecked at Fitzroy River 1895 Original Austinmer Colliery - closed 1896 Unanderra Coke Works (Southern Coal Co.) closes. 1898 Wiley Mine - (fig. 66 "History of Coal Mining in Australia") Showing mine in use. 1898 A more northerly mine to Austinmer Colliery opened of smaller size 1898 The Mt. Pleasant Coal & Iron Mining Co. formed (public company) 1898 Nth Illawarra Colliery - closes 1898 Bellambi's second jetty destroyed with loss of collier - abandoned. 1898 Long Point Jetty - destroyed 1899 Bulli Pass Colliery - (1/2 coke; 1/2 coal) v. little work carried out. Became part of Excelsior Colliery 1899 Unanderra Coke Works (Southern Coal Co.) reopens. 1899 Coalcliff Colliery - furnace ventilation ceases 1899 Mt. Keira Colliery - 8th Nov - purchased by Ebenezer Vickery & Sons from Osborne family 1899 Mt. Keira Colliery - 8th Dec - John McGeachie appointed manager.
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"
1900 South Clifton installs coke ovens adjacent to railway 1900 Excelsior No.1 Colliery - commences - J. S. Kirkton (just north of Bulli Pass) 1900 South Bulli Colliery - sold by Ebenezer Vickery to Bellambi Coal Co. 1901 Mt. Keira Colliery - 21st May - John McGeachie replaced by Jacob Carlos Jones (ex manager of Sth Bulli & Austinmer Collieries. 1901 Mt. Keira Colliery - purchased by Ebenezer Vickery from the Osborne family 1901 South Bulli Colliery - sold by Ebenezer Vickery to Bellambi Coal Co. 1902 Nth Bulli (new) Colliery - opened immediately above Coledale railway station under the control of Hyde & Cater, on the site of previously abandoned mine 1902 Coalcliff Colliery - purchased by E. Vickery & Sons 1902 Sth Bulli Colliery - purchased by Bellambi Coal Co. 1902 Government takes over Southern Coal Co. 1902 Mt. Kembla Colliery - disaster July 31st.- 95 men died - mine reopens 24th Sept. 1903 Tongarra Colliery - Percy Owen takes over from William Brownlee as mine operator. 1904 Tongarra Colliery - in 300' from outcrop. Murray Brownlee manager for Yuill & Co. of Corrimal 1904 Coalcliff jetty lost in storm (150') 1904 Black Ball Colliery - (Pors. 82 & 83 Woonona) 7' seam dirty. Probably Plunketts Hill or Tongarra seam 1905 Excelsior No.2 Colliery - commences - Ryan (immediately below Bulli Pass Lookout) Combined w/- Excelsior No. 1 1906 Corrimal Colliery (aka Brokers Nose) - 91' upthrow fault encountered - new entrance established 1.5 km sth - by G. S. Yuill & Coy. Pty Ltd. and to be known as Corrimal-Balgownie Colliery 1907 Bulli Bight - jetty rebuilt - damaged 1908 Corrimal Colliery - 780' x 14' vent shaft (#1) sunk. Fitted with Sirocco, 91" dia. double inlet fan 1908 Tongarra Colliery - further development by Percy Owen 1908 Sth. Clifton Tunnel Colliery - opened 1909 Coalcliff Colliery - purchased by Coalcliff Collieries Ltd. 1909 Balgownie Colliery (Owen's) - commenced near Mt. Pleasant in 4' seam. 1909 Bulli Colliery - delay due to basalt dyke encountered 1909 Bellambi jetty - rebuilt
1910
1910 Coalcliff jetty - abandoned 1910 Tongarra Colliery (Owen's) - commenced. Operated till early 1920's 1911 Coke ovens erected near Corrimal by Southern Coal Co. moving from Unanderra 1912 Australian Coke Making Co. at Unanderra closes. 1912 Sth. Clifton Colliery - tunnels driven to replace shafts. 1912 Bulli Bight - jetty rebuilt - damaged 1913 Balgownie Colliery (Owen's) - closed 1913 Mt. Kembla Colliery - Mount Kembla Collieries Ltd. takes over. (until 1946) 1914 Tongarra Colliery - 6 ton sample to Sydney w/- prospect of supplying railways - did not succeed in bid. 1915 Wongawilli Colliery - opens in Wongawilli seam 1916 Five Islands Point jetty in constant use till now. 1916 Wongawilli Colliery - holdings purchased by G & C Hoskins & Development commenced 1917 Bulli Colliery - coal cutters withdrawn due to concern with dust & gas. 1917 Woonona Colliery - closes?? 1918 Part of Brokers Nose collapses in large land slip. 1919 South Clifton Colliery - closes, plus the 32 coke ovens . Remaining coal to be extracted by the adjoining mine at Wombarra.
1920
1920 Wongawilli Colliery - Washery (first on Sth Coast) installed plus 40 coke ovens 1920 Mt. Kembla Colliery - Machines withdrawn - concern with dust & gas. 1920 Illawarra Colliery - Illawarra Coal Co. acquires leases & opens colliery (by 1933 known as PK 2 Colliery 1920 South Clifton Shaft closes down. 1920 Bulli Jetty still in use (fig.97 CMHA) 1921 Metropolitan Colliery - Huddart Parker Ltd. takes over 1921 Mt. Kembla Extended Colliery (previously Owen's Balgownie Colliery) opens 1922 Bellambi Colliery - closes (Sth Bulli ???) 1924 Clifton Jetty - demolished 1925 Wongawilli Colliery - additional 40 coke ovens installed 1925 Bulli Colliery - delayed when cinder encountered 1925 Corrimal Colliery - 1120' x 17' vent shaft (#2) sunk. 1925 Metropolitan Colliery - CO2 outburst, 200 tons, kills 2 miners. 1925 Mt. Kembla Colliery - replaces furnace with fan. 1925 Five Islands Point jetty derelict until 1925 (9m water @ low tide & load coal @ 300t/hr) 1926 Nth Bulli Colliery - closes. (reopened on small scale later) 1927 Nth Bulli Colliery - closes. 1929 South Bulli No 1 Shaft reaches coal.
1930
1932 Parke’s Tongarra opens. Works for ~ 2 years. 1933 Sth Kembla Colliery (adjoining Wongawilli Colliery to the north, acquired by G & C Hoskins 1933 Mt. Pleasant Colliery closes. 1934 Mt. Pleasant Colliery goes into liquidation. 1934 Mt. Pleasant Colliery (Nthn side of Mt. Keira) purchased by E. Vickery & Sons 10/9/34 1935 Mt. Pleasant Colliery taken over by Vickery & Sons (except MP.16) and renamed Keira Pleasant Tunnels 1935 Wongawilli Colliery & Pt Kembla Steelworks - purchased by BHP 1936 Old Bulli Colliery - purchased by AIS 1936 Mt. Kembla Extended Colliery - closes. 1936 Wongawilli Colliery - longest haulage incline in world installed. 1937 Mt. Keira Colliery - purchased by AIS on 26th January (includes Mt. Pleasant Colliery) from Vickery & Sons 1937 Mt. Keira Colliery - holes into Mt. Pleasant Colliery (5NE hdg in MP.15) 5th August 1938 Coke works at Wongawilli Colliery closed - reopens in 1941 because of wartime demand 1938 Mt. Pleasant Power Station restarted to supply Mt. Keira Colliery 1938 Mt. Keira Colliery - Samson Coal Cutter, Blackett Conveyor & 9x Sullivan Coal Cutter introduced 1939 Corrimal Colliery - Jeffrey cutters introduced
1940
1940 Tongarra Colliery - purchased by Excelsior Collieries. (Parkes ) 1940 Mt. Keira Colliery - takes electric power from steelworks 1940 Metropolitan Colliery - 8BU loaders introduced 1940 Mt. Kembla jetty condemned. 1941 Wongawilli Colliery - Coke works reopens 1941 Prospecting in #3 seam at Mt. Keira & Mt. Pleasant by BHP for future utilisation 1941 Port Kembla No 2 - Colliery opens 1942 Mt. Keira Colliery - operates diesel locos u/g 1942 North Bulli Colliery - re-opens 1943 Tongarra Colliery purchased by Excelsior Collieries of Thirroul. (R. Fullager then A. Smith as manager ). 1943 Bulli jetty at Sandon point washed away in storm - abandoned (8m water at jetty & loaded @ 120t/hr) 1944 Coal Cliff Colliery taken over by Commonwealth Coal Commissioner 1945 Mt. Kembla Colliery purchased by AIS Ltd. (until 1970) 1946 Nebo Colliery opened by BHP in Wongawilli seam (using track mounted mechanisation) 1946 Mt. Keira Colliery - operations started in Wongawilli seam in April (in addition to Bulli seam) 1946 Huntly Colliery commences as small, privately owned mine by Waugh Bros. 1947 Wongawilli Colliery - track mounted machine loading introduced 1947 Tongarra Colliery - May - G. Roberts takes over from A. Smith as manager 1947 Sth Bulli Colliery - scraper loaders introduced 1947 Coal Cliff Colliery - control by Commonwealth Coal Commissioner lifted 1948 Coke works & washery at Wongawilli closed 1948 Excelsior No.1 Colliery closes 1948 Kembla - Keira Tunnel - work commences 1949 Bulli Colliery - contract mining ceases 1949 Kembla - Keira Colliery (Kemira Colliery) - contract mining ceases 1949 Kembla - Keira Colliery fully mechanised 1949 Bulli Colliery - coal cutters withdrawn due to concern with dust & gas. 1949 Woonona Colliery - closes??
2000 - Avon Colliery closure April 2000 due to the loss of markets, was rapid, portals sealed within days and the equipment being auctioned off on 25th May, 2000.
2003 – Corrimal No 3 Shaft fan shut down (but shaft remains open as naturally ventilating U/C shaft) as redundant when Cordeaux Colliery reverts to care and maintenance status. (B.S.)
2005 – Corrimal No 2 Shaft is backfilled and concrete capped and the site rehabilitated. (contractors - Select Civil). (B.S.)
2006 – Representatives from Gujarat NRE explore the mine workings of Avondale Colliery after nearly a month of reopening the seals.
2010
2013 – Corrimal No 3 Shaft acting as the upcast (natural ventilation) for Cordeaux Colliery. (B.S.)
